Paleoart

This magnificently illustrated book describes and depicts images of paleo art from the inception of the field, in the 1830s, to the modern era. Paleoart, unique in its literary field, includes beautifully reproduced paintings, drawings, tile mosaics, etc. from collections around the world. Each example represents a mixture of science and fantasy as artists have attempted to visualize extinct life in its long-ago environment. Some art used in this volume was taken from the archives and collection of the Smithsonian’s Paleobiology collection. 

Organized chronologically, the chapters illustrate how progress in the science of paleontology and changing styles in artistic genres inform the imagination of paleo artists. As bones and relics are unearthed and analyzed, our understanding of the prehistoric environment also advances, so that we have a better idea of flora and fauna that coexisted, when humans appeared, and what the geography, geology, and climate were like. Artistic trends also affected the choice of media and style for the creators of these works of art. This folio sized book features artistic works in one to two page spreads, and four page foldouts in some cases, alongside important paleontological history.

As the author writes in her conclusion: “Prehistoric animals only exist in fossil form and in the human imagination.” In that context, these wonderful works of art embody natural curiosity, the relentless passage of time, the beauty of all living creatures, and the nexus of art and science.