Paleoimagery: The Evolution of Dinosaurs in Art [Hardcover]

Allen A. Debus (Author), Diane E. Debus (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786412224 | ISBN-13: 978-0786412228 | Publication Date: September 11, 2002

Other than seeing them in popular movies such as Jurassic Park, how do people today know what dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals looked like? Only their fossils remain, but thanks to paleoartists most people have a good idea of what these creatures looked like.

The world of paleoart and its artists are the subject of this richly illustrated work. It explores themes in the depiction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, paleoart's history and speculative nature and its effect on scientists' impressions of prehistoric animals. Also explored are such topics as the careers of several paleoartists, including Georges Cuvier, Gideon Mantell, John Martin, Neave Parker, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and Charles R. Knight, the depiction of scientific ideas about dinosaurs and prehistoric animals on canvas and in sculpture, the purpose and process of restoring them in museums, the significance of certain restorations and images, and the development of paleoart in America.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

How do we know what dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals looked like? We depend on paleoart--paintings and sculptures created by artists who use fossils and the speculations of scientists to reconstruct and restore long-lost life-forms. The entertaining history of this invaluable, tremendously popular, and ever-changing genre is the subject of this unprecedented volume by Allen Debus, editor of Dinosaur World, and his coauthor and wife, Diane. Their lively study features a wealth of illustrations (alas, only in black-and-white), some rare, some ravishing, others hilarious. As the Debuses track the simultaneous evolution of scientific discoveries and corresponding paleoart aesthetics, they discuss such milestones as the paleo-fantasies of British artist John Martin (1789-1854), whose romantic scenic restorations tend toward the cataclysmic, and the evocative panoramas of Charles R. Knight, the most popular of American paleoartists and a master at maintaining "theoretical correctness" while evoking tremendous drama. The need to balance imagination with scientific exactitude is the genre's great challenge, whether the artist is working with paint, sculpting media, or the latest in cyber-imagining, and paleoimagery succeeds to the degree that it simultaneously educates and delights, goals felicitously achieved here. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Entertaining...invaluable...unprecedented...simultaneously educates and delights, goals felicitously achieved here...a wealth of illustrations." --Booklist/RBB

"Nicely illustrated...a beautiful hardcover book packed with historic illustration." --Prehistoric Times

"A veritable tour de force of dinosaur imagery...in depth...refreshing...excellent...exhilarating." --Dino Land

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 293 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (September 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786412224
• ISBN-13: 978-0786412228
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,499,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the cover fool you...., January 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Paleoimagery: The Evolution of Dinosaurs in Art (Hardcover)

Don't let the cover fool you. When I saw this book about Paleo-art, I was expecting beautful color illustrations. Not so! Everything in the book is black and white, and the printing quality is terrible. The text may be good, but as an art book-no; also, it cost almost fifty-dollars. Save your money. I 've seen cheaper books on the same theme. Thanks

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars minimal illustrations, but good information, January 4, 2009

By 

Terry N. Thielen "TNT" (fayetteville, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paleoimagery: The Evolution of Dinosaurs in Art (Hardcover)

I was slightly disappointed in this book. I knew the images would be black & white, but I didn't realize they would be of such poor quality. Most of the images are too dark and muddy to get a sense of what's going on. They look like bad photocopies. The paper is of a pulp quality which just adds to the problems of reproduction. However, there is a lot of good information in this book. The articles and essays in it go into great detail about certain artists and their lives. Much of this information I have not come across anywhere else. The text refers to many examples of artwork and has extensive footnotes, but sadly, does not include even half of the artwork it talks about. I was under the impression that this was going to be a very good history of Dinosaur artwork over the past hundred years or more, but instead it contains disorganized tidbits of information.
It is a good book overall but not what I would have expected out of a 75$ pricetag.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional account of 'paleoart' history!, January 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Paleoimagery: The Evolution of Dinosaurs in Art (Hardcover)

Loved it! 'Paleoimagery' conveys many original & somewhat personalized insights concerning the genre of paleoart (without emphasis on dinosaur movies), capturing the topical & historical essence of the genre. Numerous figures illustrate key points within the text. A 'must' for anyone who enjoys the art of prehistoric wildlife.