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The Evolution of Paleontological Art
GSA Memoirs

The Evolution of Paleontological Art

Editor(s)
Renee M. Clary
Renee M. Clary
Department of Geosciences Mississippi State University, Box 5448 Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, USA
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Gary D. Rosenberg
Gary D. Rosenberg
Geology Department, Milwaukee Public Museum 800 West Wells Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA and Earth Sciences Department Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis 46202, USA
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Dallas C. Evans
Dallas C. Evans
Purdue Extension Marion County Discovery Hall, Suite 201, 1202 East 38th Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46205, USA
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Geological Society of America
Volume
218
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1130/MWR218
Copyright:
© 2022 The Geological Society of America. All rights reserved.
ISBN electronic:
9780813782188
ISBN print:
9780813712185
Publication date:
February 24, 2022

Fossils have stirred the imagination globally for thousands of years, starting well before they were recognized as the remains of once-living organisms and proxies of former worlds. This volume samples the history of art about fossils and the visual conceptualization of their significance starting with biblical and mythological depictions, extending to renditions of ancient life as it flourished in long-vanished habitats, and on to a modern understanding that fossil art conveys lessons for the betterment of the human condition. The 29 papers and accompanying artwork illustrate how art about fossils has come to be a significant teaching tool not only about evolution of past life, but also about conservation of our planet for the benefit of future generations.

Book Chapter

The use of artwork to document geologic systems in The Geology of Russia (1845)

Author(s)
John Diemer
John Diemer
Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, USA
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;
Lydia Diemer
Lydia Diemer
Center for the Book, University of Iowa, 216 North Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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Doi:
https://doi.org/10.1130/2021.1218(14)
  • Published:
    February 24, 2022
Publication history
January 14, 2021
September 21, 2021

ABSTRACT

Artwork in The Geology of Russia (1845) documents the extent and fossil content of several Paleozoic systems in Europe and large tracts of Russia. That artwork conveys a sense of landscape, portrays the distribution of strata both at and below the surface, and documents the fossil evidence for identifying several Paleozoic geologic systems. The artwork includes wood engravings, lithographs, zincographs, and copper plate engravings. The choice of technique was governed by the content and desired character of the images and the logistics of printing. Roderick Murchison was a master of organization who commissioned, assembled, and oversaw the production of artwork that was crucial to presenting the evidence for the Paleozoic systems documented in The Geology of Russia (1845).

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