HENRY DE LA BECHE (1796-1855) AND CHARLES KNIGHT (1874-1955): DRAWING THINGS TOGETHER WITH PALEONTOLOGICAL ART

Paleontological art, or paleoart, advanced scientific understanding and public enjoyment through the development of paleontology’s visual language. Paleoart evolved, from mythological representations to fossil proxy sketches by which fossil specimens could be shared, to reconstructed scenes of ancient life. From 1830 through the 1930s, a ‘golden era’ of paleontological reconstructions, paleoart milestones included the publication of the first scene that envisioned paleontology’s past, and explosive 20^th century dissemination that brought paleoart to an enthralled public. In 1830, Henry De la Beche (1796-1855) drew Duria antiquior, the first published reconstruction of extinct organisms as they might have appeared in life. Drawn as a fund-raiser for Mary Anning (1779-1847), then in financial distress, De la Beche, with William Buckland’s (1784-1856) assistance, imagined plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, ammonites, pterosaurs, and plants living in Lyme Regis during the Jurassic Period. Lithographs were sold to Geological Society of London members, with some copies available for purchase in Anning’s fossil shop.

By the early 20^th century, Charles R. Knight (1874-195­­5) emerged as a premier paleontological artist who sculpted and painted ancient beasts for museums, books, and magazines. Knight based his reconstructions on contemporary scientific research and his own observations of modern animals—though his resulting art did not always meet the approval of supervising scientists. However, Knight remains a paleoart influencer 70 years after his death. His murals continue to inspire modern artists, with many still displayed at Chicago’s Field Museum. De la Beche’s Duria antiquior lithograph also has lasting impact, since it serves as the origin for all Deep Time reconstructions, including popular dinosaur movies of the 21^st century. Paleoart unites science, creativity, and imagination to draw together scientists and a public audience.