Dinosaur Imagery: The Science of Lost Worlds and Jurassic Art: The Lanzendorf Collection - Hardcover

Lanzendorf, John J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0124365906 ISBN 13: 9780124365902

Publisher: Academic Press, 2000

Synopsis

The art of natural history is often both compelling and emotive, as well as emblematic of society's view of the world. This art reflects the messages that scientists hope to send to a general audience as a part of their effort to influence how public funds are spent in support of science. The art is the medium AND the message. The public fascination over dinosaurs has been fueled by images that eloquently illustrate current scientific theories about dinosaur behavior, physiology, locomotion, and reproduction. The evidence for many of these theories is very good. The art of dinosaur depiction is firmly rooted in the processes of scientific inquiry. Because the paintings and sculptures that illustrate dinosaur science are so powerful, collectors vie for this art paying top dollar to acquire it and display it. One of the largest personal collections is held by John Lanzendorf--over 100 superlative paintings and drawings, 40 significant sculptures (bronze), many other small pieces, drawings, figurines, action figures, and more. Artists represented in this unparalleled collection are the best illustrators, painters, sculptors and movie-magicians.

Key Features
* Art from the John Lanzendorf collection - the world's best
* Contributions from 20 leading paleontologists - each have written a short commentary on a certain piece of art
* Eye-pleasing layout - full pages of art are complemented by an accompanying page of commentary

About this title

Review

In 1985, a Chicago hair stylist named John Lanzendorf bought a sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex on a whim. Fifteen years later, he had added more than 420 pieces to that initial purchase, assembling a collection that, paleontologist Philip Currie writes, "is the envy of many museums," and that one day doubtless will form the core of a museum collection itself.

Cataloguing only a portion of Lanzendorf's holdings, Dinosaur Imagery joins works by painters, animators, and sculptors, such as John Gurche, Donna Braginetz, and Gary Staab, with extended captions by paleontologists such as Michael Brett-Surman (Smithsonian Institution) and Mark Norell (American Museum of Natural History). The works of art range from the rigorously representational to the occasionally playful (but, fortunately, seldom kitschy), and there are some wonderful finds among them. The texts are revealing; it will come as news to many readers that the ancestor of the aforementioned T. rex may well have sported feathers (its posture, recent anatomical studies suggest, also resembled that of a chicken), that theropods hunted in packs, that sauropods traveled in herds, and that "the extinction of dinosaurs, although scientific dogma for decades, is now recognized as taxonomic illusion."

This well-made book is manna for fans of dinosaurs and dinosauriana, and an ideal gift for budding paleontologists. --Gregory McNamee

From the Back Cover

From The Foreword by Philip J. Currie
"Paleo-art resides in many of the world's great Natural History Museums, but the most notable collection characterizing the present state of dinosaur art is that of John Lanzendorf. It would be impossible to collect all of the dinosaur artwork being produced today; if it could be done, John would be the one to do it. Highly respected by the artists he supports and the scientists he associates with, John has built an awe-inspiring collection that is representative of the genre and is the envy of many museums. As we move into a new millennium, his collection is the most appropriate source for documenting the marriage of the creative talents of artists and scientist."
The art of natural history is both compelling and emotive, often emblematic of society's view of our world. This same art also reflects the messages that scientists hope to send to a general audience as a part of their effort to influence how public views and supports science. Art is both the medium and the message.
Dinosaur Imagery is a luxurious testimonial to the public fascination with dinosaurs, enriched by imagery that eloquently illustrates current scientific theories about dinosaur behavior, physiology, locomotion, and reproduction. The evidence for many of these hypotheses of dinosaur life is very good, and thus, the art of dinosaur depiction is rooted in scientific inquiry. The paintings and sculptures that illustrate dinosaur science are powerful, and museums and collectors vie for this art, paying top dollar to acquire it and display it. Dinosaur Imagery is a stunning fusion of superlative scientific inquiry and unparalleled artistic imagination. Regardless of background, no person interested in dinosaurs should be without a copy of this book.

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0124365906
• ISBN 13: 9780124365902
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 152