This post comes from Leonie Cash, a librarian at the Museum Victoria library.
Thanks to the network of arts libraries, ARLIS, a trio of RMIT art academics visited the MV Library’s rare books collection recently to view examples of eighteenth and nineteenth century scientific illustration. Facsimiles of Albertus Seba and Maria Merian’s work were also on display.
Facsimiles of famous works by Albertus Seba and Maria Merian.
Source: Museum Victoria
The three visitors are associated with RMIT’s School of Art and all are practising artists with a keen interest in natural history, particularly natural history illustration.
Greg Moncrieff, work experience student Max and Louise Weaver examine the exquisite illustrations in MV's rare books.
Source: Museum Victoria
Greg Moncrieff was very pleased with the diversity of material available from the old books on display.
While looking at Gould’s humming birds, Louise Weaver was fascinated by the methods of layering of paint that reproduce the beautiful colours of these small birds.
Peter Ellis, Associate Professor and Studio Coordinator of Painting at RMIT, has written that the “experience of travel has had a profound impression on my work” and his visit to Museum Victoria’s rare books, though a short distance, has left him wanting to return again soon.
Fish illustration from 19th century America.
Source: Museum Victoria
The MV Library is happy to host visiting scholars by appointment; please contact us via email.
Links:
X Marks the Spot exhibition, 2006