The art and science of the Crystal Palace dinosaurs / Mark P Witton and Ellinor Michel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Witton, Mark P., 1984- author.

Michel, Ellinor, author.

Contributor:

Michel, Ellinor, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sculpture--England--London--History--19th century.

Sculpture.

Prehistoric animals in art.

Dinosaurs in art.

Crystal Palace (London, England)--History--19th century.

Crystal Palace (London, England).

England--London.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

192 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps ; 29 cm

Place of Publication:

Ramsbury, Marlborough : The Crowood Press, 2022.

Summary:

The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, a series of thirty-seven incredible sculptures of prehistoric animals and geological displays, were unveiled to the public as part of the famous Crystal Palace Park in 1854. The display, which includes iconic depictions of rhinoceros-like dinosaurs, regal extinct mammals, serpentine marine reptiles and giant, frog-like amphibians, captured a snapshot of palaeontology from a golden era of scientific discovery in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, they are internationally recognized as a milestone in our portrayals of extinct life. This book celebrates these classic scientific artworks and explores: their history, their conception as a wider part of the Crystal Palace project, their execution using unorthodox building materials, their reception by nineteenth century and modern critics, and their enduring mysteries. Hundreds of historic and modern photos and original paintings show modern scientific visions of the extinct animals restored. Written in collaboration with and in support of the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs charity, this superb book gives the most detailed and complete history of these world-famous sculptures yet, reinforcing their status as masterworks of education and palaeoartistry.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: pt. 1 ISLANDS COVERED BY STRANGE FIGURES

1. Historic prehistory in South London

2. Ancient worlds through a Victorian lens: planning the Geological Court

3. Bricks, iron and tiles: rebuilding the past

pt. 2 ANIMALS LONG SINCE EXTINCT

4. The sculptures: mammals

5. The sculptures: Mosasaurus haffmanni

6. The sculptures: flying reptiles

7. The sculptures: dinosaurs

8. The sculptures: `Teleosaurus chapmani'

9. The sculptures: enaliosaurs

10. The sculptures: `Labyrinthodon'

11. The sculptures: Dicynodon

pt. 3 A DIFFICULT... AND, PERHAPS, TOO BOLD, ATTEMPT

12. The reception and legacy of the Geological Court

13. Past becomes future: the conservation of the Geological Court.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 184-187) and index.

ISBN:

071984049X

9780719840494

OCLC:

1289987839