1. bioephemera
  2. Fossils in fine art

Fossils in fine art

By bioephemera on April 29, 2009.
i-98b4606b53c1a90235ba2dc4a415e294-Picture 1.png

Check out Brian's new review of A History of Paleontology Illustration (Life of the Past) by Jane Davidson, in Palaeontologia Electronica:

It is rare for fossils to be featured in fine art, but in the 15th century painting A Goldsmith in His Shop, Possibly Saint Eligius by the Flemish master Petrus Christus there is, if you look carefully, a fossil shark tooth among the objects scattered on the shop's table. The fossil plays a nearly insignificant role in the painting, but it reflects the general interpretation of such natural curiosities at the time. From this modest starting point, Davidson launches into a detailed artist-by-artist exposition of fossil illustration, explaining artistic traditions and techniques as well as the changing nature of paleontology.

Sounds fascinating!

Tags
biology
Books & Essays
Medical Illustration and History
Museum Lust
Science
Art
Book
Brian Switek
dinosaurs
fossils
illustration
jane davidson
laelaps
paleontology
biology
Science

More like this

Book Review: A History of Paleontology Illustration
When I wrote my essay on violent interactions between prehistoric monsters in art, I thought I had touched on something intriguing. I penned a proposal for a more focused article on the topic and sent it out to magazines purported to feature articles at the intersection of science and culture. The…
The new Palaeontologia Electronica is here!
After a long wait, the new Palaeontologia Electronica is now online! It even includes a review of Jane Davidson's A History of Paleontology Illustration by yours truly. Check it out!
Dr. Donald R. Prothero has been awarded the 2013 James Shea Award by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Hey, check this out: Dr. Donald R. Prothero recently retired from his professorship at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA after 27 years of teaching in order to concentrate on his writing and consulting. Dr. Prothero is an indefatigable advocate for geology and paleontology, which he combines…
A brief note on a publication
The latest edition of the open-access paleontology journal Palaeontologia Electronica was recently published, and I am happy to say that it contains my review of The Paleobiological Revolution. If you are interested in the history of science and how paleontology has changed during the past four…

Thanks, Jessica! It is not a bad reference book, but I really wish Davidson spent some more time on illustration post "Dinosaur Renaissance." Oh well, at least that's a niche I might one day be able to fill. :)