Research Catalog

Title

A history of paleontology illustration / Jane P. Davidson.

Author

Davidson, Jane P.

Publication

Bloomington : Indiana University Press, c2008.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

xvi, 217 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. (some col.); 26 cm.

Summary

"Writing from the perspective of an art historian, Jane P. Davidson traces the history of paleontology illustration from the fifteenth century to the present, combining discussion of these images as works of representative art with candid assessments of the artists." "The book covers drawings of fossils, restorations of plants and animals, and ecological restoration in painting, drawing, sculpture, and in display restorations such as dioramas. Although the subject of the book is chiefly scientific illustration, it delves briefly into "popular" illustration such as that found in children's textbooks, popular introductions to paleontology and geology, museum and other public displays, and movies." "Davidson considers the paleontologist's role as an artist, the interaction between artist and paleontologist, realism in paleontology art, and the persistence of invalid representations. She also discusses the role that nineteenth-century scientific journals such as The American Naturalist and The American Journal of Science played in the history of paleontology illustration." "Both a history of science and of representation, this is a fascinating chronicle of the interaction between art and science."--BOOK JACKET.

Series Statement

Life of the past

Uniform Title

Life of the past.

Subject

• Paleontological illustration > History
• Fossils in art > History
• Zoological illustration > History

Genre/Form

History

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 203-213) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Fossils in art and book illustration in early modern Europe -- The late seventeenth century and the eighteenth century -- The nineteenth century -- The paleontologist poses with fossils -- Early photography in paleontology, 1840-1931 -- The twentieth century.

ISBN

• 9780253351753 (cloth : alk. paper)
• 0253351758 (cloth : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2007052741

OCLC

177009622

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library