Art revealing science: marine mammal palaeoart

Abstract

ABSTRACT Apart from mythological drawings (e.g. unicorns and mermaids), some appearing during classical times, marine mammals have been the subject of palaeoart since the seventeenth century. Whales were the first marine mammals to be portrayed in detailed pencil and ink scientific illustrations printed as woodcuts and copper engravings. The early and mid twentieth century witnessed an increase in number of paleoartists, such as Zdenêk Burian and Charles Knight painting in rich, vibrant colours. Later, more attention was focused on portraying the ecologies and environments inhabited by fossil marine mammals based on analogies with living species resulting in restorations of entire animal and plant communities. In the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries, traditional illustrations were complemented by digital art with an emphasis on accurate, realistic portrayals of fossil marine mammals based on new interpretations of their anatomy, ecology, behaviour and habitat. Apart from the inextricable connection of palaeontology and art, palaeoart also serves a vital role in visually communicating science and evolution to the public as portrayed in museum exhibitions and other venues.