Discusses how the scientific and cultural imagery of prehistoric animals has evolved since the nineteenth century.
Other than seeing them in popular movies such as Jurassic Park, how do people today know what dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals looked like? Only their fossils remain, but thanks to paleoartists most people have a good idea of what these creatures looked like. The world of paleoart and its artists are the subject of this richly illustrated work. It explores themes in the depiction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, paleoarts history and speculative nature and its effect on scientists impressions of prehistoric animals. Also explored are such topics as the careers of several paleoartists, including Georges Cuvier, Gideon Mantell, John Martin, Neave Parker, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Charles R. Knight, the depiction of scientific ideas about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals on canvas and in sculpture, the purpose and process of restoring them in museums, the significance of certain restorations and images, and the development of paleoart in America.
Dinosaur sculptor Allen and co-author Diane embark on their third book about creatures long gone by addressing evolving ideas about prehistoric animal imagery since the 19th century in such varied manifestations as science tool and cultural symbol. The concept of visual paleontology is their unifying theme. The illustrations are monochromatic. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
