Tag Archives: Scientific Illustration

Metamorphosis in Art, Part 1 of 2~

Posted in Miscellaneous by

Metamorphosis II, 1939-1940, by M.C. Escher (1898-1972) / https://mcescher.com/about/biography/
Woodcut on paper / Boston Public Library / https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:ww72cb78j

metamorphosis (noun)  me-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs 
1a: change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means
the metamorphosis of humans into animals
1b: a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances
The company has gone through a series of metamorphoses.
2: a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (such as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching
the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metamorphosis

1. The Metamorphosis of Daphne by Master of the Judgement of Paris (active mid-15th C)
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/master-of-the-judgement-of-paris
Tempera on wood / The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-metamorphosis-of-daphne-33148

2. The Metamorphosis of Hermaphrodite and Salmacis, c.1517, by Jan Gossaert (c.1478–1532)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Gossaert
Oil on panel / Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/artworks/3731/the-metamorphosis-of-hermaphrodite-and-salmacis

3. Plate 5 from Dissertation in Insect Generations and Metamorphosis in Surinam, 1719, by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717)
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/maria-sibylla-merian-metamorphosis-art-and-science.html
Hand-colored engraving on paper / National Museum of Women in the Arts, DC
https://nmwa.org/art/collection/plate-5-dissertation-insect-generations-and-metamorphosis-surinam/

4. Les Métamorphoses d’Ovide, before 1886, by Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)
https://rodinmuseum.org/collection/about-auguste-rodin
Plaster / Musée Rodin, Paris, France
https://collections.musee-rodin.fr/fr/museum/rodin/les-metamorphoses-d-ovide/S.02871?anneeDeCreation%5B0%5D=1886&position=91

5. Metamorphosis, 1908, by Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)
https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/artist/piet-mondrian
Oil on canvas / Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Netherlands, gift of Sal Slijper
https://rkd.nl/en/explore/images/268881

6. Metamorphosis, 1917, by Gaganendranath Tagore (1867—1938)
https://indianhistorycollective.com/the-satirical-genius-of-gaganendranath-tagore-artistic-indianart-bengals-peasantryclass-cartoons-painting-master/
Collection of 16 lithographs bound in one volume / Various collections incl. V&A, London, UK
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1171926/metamorphosis-lithograph-tagore-gaganendranath/

7. Metamorphosis, 1936, by Herbert Bayer (1900-1985)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Bayer
Gelatin silver print / Various collections including The Met, NYC
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/265442

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Monday, February 6: Metamorphosis in Art, Part 2 of 2

Metamorphosis III, 1967–1968, by M.C. Escher (1898-1972) / https://mcescher.com/about/biography/
Woodcut on paper mounted on canvas, partly colored by hand / Boston Public Library
https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:ww72cb78j

Dandelions in Art, Part 1 of 2~

Posted in Miscellaneous by

“Taraxacum officinale, the dandelion or common dandelion, is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant, well known for its yellow flower heads that turn into round balls of silver-tufted fruits that disperse in the wind.
The common dandelion grows in temperate regions of the world in areas with moist soils. It is most often considered a weed, especially in lawns and along roadsides, but the leaves, flowers, and roots are sometimes used in herbal medicine and as food.”
~https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum_officinale

The First Dandelion
Simple and fresh and fair from winter’s close emerging,
As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,
Forth from its sunny nook of shelter’d grass—innocent, golden,
calm as the dawn,
The spring’s first dandelion shows its trustful face.
~Walt Whitman (1819-1892) https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/walt-whitman

1. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) with a caterpillar from The Book of Flower Studies, c.1510–1515, by Master of Claude de France
https://frenchly.us/art-master-of-claude-de-france/
Opaque water color, organic glazes, gold and silver paint, iron and carbon-based ink and charcoal on parchment / The Met Cloisters, New York, NY
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/823979

2. A Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) with a Tiger Moth, a Butterfly, a Snail, and a Beetle, c.1730, by Barbara Regina Dietzsch (1706-1783)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Regina_Dietzsch
Opaque watercolor on parchment / Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
https://www.famsf.org/artworks/a-dandelion-taraxacum-officinale-with-a-tiger-moth-a-butterfly-a-snail-and-a-beetle

3. Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3: Sparrows and Dandelions, c.1820 by Teisai Hokuba (1771-1844)
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG1797
Privately published woodblock prints (surimono) mounted in an album; ink and color on paper / The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/54148

4. Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale), c. 1854, by Anna Atkins (1799-1871)
https://schristywolfe.com/2018/03/16/anna-atkins-born-march-16-1799/
Cyanotype on paper / Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82810/dandelion-taraxacum-officinale-photograph-atkins-anna/

5. Dandelion Seeds, 1858 or later, by William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fox_Talbot
Photogravure / The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/285342

6. Dandelions, 1867–68, by Jean-François Millet (1814–1875)
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1720.html
Pastel on tan wove paper / Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/31640/dandelions?ctx=b188ba7b-3b8e-411d-85c1-9bd17545e848&idx=0

7. Tree trunks in the grass, 1890, by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/vincents-life-1853-1890
Oil on canvas / Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, the Netherlands
https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-tree-trunks-in-the-grass

8. Dandelions, ND, by Bertha Wegmann (1847-1926)
https://www.portraitsociety.org/single-post/an-introduction-to-bertha-wegmann
Oil on canvas / Private collection
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/british-european-art-online/bertha-wegmann-danish-1847-1926-108/171771

9. Dandelions, c.1900, by Ludwik Stasiak (1858-1924)
https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/124863
Oil on canvas / Stanisław Fischer Museum, Bochnia, Poland
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ludwik_Stasiak_-_Dmuchawce.jpg
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Monday, January 23rd: Dandelions in Art, Part 2 of 2
https://schristywolfe.com/2023/01/23/dandelions-in-art-part-2-of-2/

Born October 24~ Marianne North

Posted in 365 Women Artists, Artists Born Today Include:, Women Artists by

Marianne North (October 24, 1830-August 30, 1890) was an English botanical artist, writer, and world traveler who visited 15 countries in 14 years.
Biography on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_North

Honeyflowers and Honeysuckers, South Africa by Marianne North
c.1882 / Oil on board / 20″x13-3/4″ / Marianne North Gallery, Kew Gardens, London, UK

Marianne North on Art UK: https://artuk.org/visit/venues/marianne-north-gallery-5000

Further reading:
https://www.lindahall.org/marianne-north/
https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/marianne-north-botanical-artist
https://www.artiststudiomuseum.org/blog/marianne-north-pioneering-botanical-artist/

Born July 3~ Maria Martin

Posted in 365 Women Artists, Artists Born Today Include:, Women Artists by

Maria Martin Bachman (July 3, 1796-December 27, 1863) was an American painter and scientific illustrator. She contributed many of the background paintings for Audubon’s The Birds of America.
Biography on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Martin

Bachman’s Warbler / Audubon-Martin collaboration
1863 / Watercolor, graphite, gouache, with touches of black ink and pastel and selective glazing
Named for Maria Martin’s brother-in-law and later husband, Reverend John Bachman

Maria’s Woodpecker~ Maria was honored by Audubon in Birds of America. He named Maria’s Woodpecker for her; this is now considered a subspecies of the Hairy Woodpecker and unfortunately no longer bears her name.

Further reading:
https://uh.edu/engines/epi891.htm
http://lepcurious.blogspot.com/2015/04/steam-empowered-maria-martin-bachman.html
Audubon’s Method and Technique: https://www.audubon-prints.com/audubon-method-and-technique/

August 16, 1916~ Migratory Bird Convention (Treaty) signed

Posted in On This Date by

Great Blue Heron by Robert Havell, Jr. after John James Audubon

The Birds of America: From Original Drawings by John James Audubon
“Drawn from nature by J. J. Audubon F.R.S. F.L.S.” “Engraved, printed & coloured by R. Havell, 1834”

1834 / Hand-colored engraving and aquatint on paper / 39 3/4”x26 15/16” / Various collections

[There are four embedded links above]

The Migratory Bird Treaty~
https://www.ducks.org/conservation/public-policy/the-migratory-bird-treaty-centennial

Previous August 16 posts:

Self Portraits~August 16

Babe Ruth, February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948

Artist Birthday Quiz for 8/16~

March 16, 1834~ H.M.S. Beagle, with Charles Darwin, arrives in the Falklands

Posted in On This Date by

Falklands Wolf, “Canis Antarcticus” by George R. Waterhouse,
from Part 2, No. 1 of The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle,
edited and superintended by Charles Darwin

1838 / 5-part book, “The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle
Under the Command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the Years 1832 to 1836”

New Clues To Extinct Falklands Wolf Mystery:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102121449.htm

Previous March 16 posts:

March 16~ Women’s History Month in visual arts

Anna Atkins: Born March 16, 1799

Artist Birthday Quiz for 3/16~

December 14~ Animals in Art

Posted in Animals in Art by

Common or Spectacled Caiman with South American False Coral Snake
by Maria Sibylla Merian

c.1705-10 / Watercolor & opaque watercolor with gum arabic on vellum / 13 5/8”x19 1/2” / Royal Collection Trust
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈

Whistlejacket by George Stubbs

c.1762 / Oil on canvas / 115”x97” / The National Gallery, London

March 13~ Women’s History Month in visual arts

Posted in #5WomenArtists, Women Artists by

Maria Hadfield Cosway (1760-1838), British painter, miniaturist, draughtswoman, etcher, and musician
http://www.19thcenturypaintings.com/artists/31-maria-cosway/biography/

A Persian Lady Worshipping the Rising Sun / 1784 / Oil on canvas / 24”x29”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marianne North (1830-1890)
Victorian naturalist, botanical artist, and author
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/marianne-north-early-female-explorer

Papyrus or Paper Reed Growing in the Ciane, Sicily / c.1870-1879 / Oil on board / 13.94”x10”

March 11~ Women’s History Month in visual arts

Posted in #5WomenArtists, Women Artists by

Rosalba Carriera (1673/5-1757)
Italian portrait painter and miniaturist best known for her work in pastels
https://nmwa.org/explore/artist-profiles/rosalba-carriera

Gustavus Hamilton, Second Viscount Boyne, in Masquerade Costume / 1730–31 / Pastel on paper, laid down on canvas / 22 1/4”x16 7/8”

 

 

 

 

Susanna Drury (c.1698-c.1770)
Landscape painter, illustrator; best known for 2 gouache drawings of the Giant’s Causeway
https://vulcan.lindahall.org/16.shtml

A View of the Giant’s Causeway: East Prospect / 1740 / Gouache on vellum / dimensions?

March 10~ Women’s History Month in visual arts

Posted in #5WomenArtists, Women Artists by

Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665), Italian artist supported her parents, three siblings, and herself entirely through her art
https://nmwa.org/explore/artist-profiles/elisabetta-sirani

Holy Family with Saints Anne and Joachim (Holy Family of the Cherries) / c.1662 / Oil on Canvas / dimensions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), Botanical & natural history illustrator; the first to record metamorphosis
https://www.botanicalartandartists.com/about-maria-sibylla-merian.html

Plate 1 from Dissertation in Insect Generations and Metamorphosis in Surinam / 1719 / Hand-colored engraving / 12 3/4”x9 3/4”