Scientific Illustration

mythologyofblue:

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(via workman)

bloodsoakedchainsaw:

One of my latest creations. A music box I made with scientific illustrations from certain works such as the Pinax Microcosmographicus, a anatomical flap book written by Johann Remlin 1667, Harvey Cushings illustration of the brain during surgery, and other various medical books. 

The box plays an eerie tune that I unfortunately don’t know the name of, but it gives the box a sense of macabre. If I must say, I’m quite pleased with it.

griseus:

Grampus griseus by Edward Drinker Cope (1876) proceedings of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia (vol 28)

big size 

mrflibbers:

Beetle illustration from last week.  A variety of Lucanidae from the lab collection.

heffydoodle:

Wilhelm Eigener’s “Reptiles and Amphibians of the World”, 1958

Set II: SNAKES

1. King Cobra, Egyptian Cobra, Indian Cobra
2. Reticulated Python
3. Tiger Rat Snake
4. Death Adder
5. Grass Snake
6. Long-nosed Tree Snake
7. Horned Viper
8. Green Anaconda
9. Boa Constrictor
10. Bushmaster

Came across some amusing errors while scanning and editing these - some of the illustrations were embarrassingly mislabeled. Most startling was seeing “Indian Python” under the anaconda illustration, and “Giant Anaconda” accompanying an image of some strange boa-esque snake I can’t find anywhere else. I’m sure these were errors on the author’s part rather than the artist’s - you couldn’t possibly render these snakes so beautifully without knowing what the hell you were drawing :P

heffydoodle:

Wilhelm Eigener, “Reptiles and Amphibians of the World”, 1958

Set I: LIZARDS

1. Komodo Dragon
2. Frilled Lizard
3. Marine Iguana
4. Giant Chameleon, Jackson’s Chameleon, Dwarf Chameleon
5. Bearded Dragon
6. Egyptian Uromastyx
7. Green Iguana
8. Sailfin Lizard
9. Thorny Devil
10. Tuatara (technically not a lizard!

While on a date yesterday we wandered over to a wonderful antique bookstore (quite a few antique shops in Savannah :P) and had a grand old time just browsing, admiring, and laughing at poorly aged books. I ended up finding an unexpected treat, though! I can’t get enough of vintage animal illustrations like these, and I especially love the painterly, sketchy quality these have. The text is rather dated but it was worth the price of $8 for the art alone. I’m in the process of scanning the best of the illustrations in the book, and what I’ll be posting of them will be merely samples - so if, when I’m done scanning, you’d like the whole folder, hit me up with a note!

I think I’m a newfound fan of this illustrator. Seems he’s done more books on mammals, birds and fishes respectively - it’s now my duty to collect those!

pollyfern:

Largest piece of work I have ever done. Completed this a few months ago. My father made the lovely huge frame holding the a4 #illustrations #illustration #ink #painting #art #drawing #duck #fish #frog #birds #eggs #snail #naturalhistory #wood (Taken with Instagram)

iffranco:

Archibald Thorburn, 1860-1935, Scottish illustrator.

jomobimo:

Vintage Botanical Prints Flowers by ninainflorida on Flickr.

umzoology:

William T. Hornaday:  Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting

Here’s another spoiler for our 1st floor exhibit case: Dave brought this beautiful book from his home to go in our display among our information about William T. Hornaday.  This book, Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting, was published in 1891 during his term as Chief Taxidermist for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  

From an artistic, historical, and biological standpoint, this book is absolutely fascinating to look through!  In so many aspects was Hornaday ahead of his time in regards towards animal preparation and taxidermy, and this book discusses some techniques which we still employ in our museum today.  In many aspects of his personal life, however, Hornaday was a controversial and stubborn figure, but nevertheless passionate about wildlife and working ultimately towards its conservation.  Someday I’ll tell you all about the time he put a pygmy person from the Congo named Ota Benga on display in the National Zoo in the primates exhibit as a way to illustrate convergent evolution, but that is totally another story.