A History of Paleontology Illustration (Life of the Past) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jane P. Davidson
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 341449
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 217
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 7 x 0.6
ISBN: 0253351758
Dewey Decimal Number: 560.222
EAN: 9780253351753
ASIN: 0253351758
Publication Date: July 2008
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Book Description
Writing from the perspective of an art historian, Jane P. Davidson traces the history of paleontology illustration from the 15th century to the present. She combines discussions of these images as works of representative art with assessments of the artists. The book covers depictions of fossils, restorations of plants and animals, and ecological restorations in painting, drawing, sculpture, and in display restorations such as dioramas. Although the main subject of the book is scientific illustration, it also delves into "popular" illustrations such as those found in children's textbooks, popular introductions to paleontology and geology, museum and other public displays, and film. Both a history of science and a history of representation, this is a fascinating exploration of the interactions between art and science.
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| Customer Reviews:
A different perspective than what I hoped for. July 20, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
It is a very heavily illustrated book, and there are some good points about it. You many be interested in artistic conventions of the past, e.g. how in the 1820-1840's, marine reptiles were always shown on land spouting like whales. Also the ability of 19th Century artists to make hand-drawn engravings that look as realistic as photographs is truly amazing.
However, ultimately I was disappointed, probably the first time by any book in the "Life of the Past" series in particular, or of the Indiana University Press in general. Here is why. Quoting from the book jacket: "Writing from the perspecitve 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 assessment of the artists."
What I really was hoping for was perspective from a historian of science: why artists depicted fossils the way they did, given the knowledge of the time. Also, I am more interested in recent times (say the past 150 years) when paleontology was a topic of scientific study and not just a collection of curiosities. Charles R. Knight appears in the last half of the last chapter.
However, what you hope to get out of this book may vary from mine.
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