Customer Reviews

Windows on Nature: The Great Habitat Dioramas of the American Museum of Natural History

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I found this treasure at my local bookstore (could have got it cheaper here!), looked it over, walked away, came back and looked again, walked away again, but couldn't find anything else I wanted as badly. It is an elegant masterpiece. I happen to thrill at anything remotely connected to taxidermy, but this book will also interest those who like nature, museums, or art.

This book is specifically about the dioramas of one museum, but in telling how they were constructed - taxidermy, foreground, and background painting - it is enlightening to anyone who loves natural history museums in general. There are color photos of the dioramas today, and black-and-whites of the artists working on various stages of their development decades ago. The step-by-step pictures of how a huge elephant mount is put together are nothing short of fascinating. Then, in addition, there are behind the scenes stories about how each diorama came together, and some hair-raising tales of specimen collecting in Africa.

If I have a complaint, it is this: the author has written the text as if only addressing fellow New Yorkers, assuming his readers have already been to this museum and seen these dioramas in person. "Think back to your memories of visits to the grand diorama galleries of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City." I can't help but feel a bit excluded, having never been there, although I am perfectly able to appreciate the exhibits based on the museums I have had the pleasure to visit. Perhaps he underestimated the broader appeal this book would have, but at any rate he unknowingly sparks a desire in the rest of us to try to get there someday!

A work as visually impressive as it is informative, Windows On Nature: The Great Habitat Dioramas Of The American Museum Of Natural History is drawn from the studies of Stephen Christopher Quinn and presents a simply outstanding collection of the artistic creation of the animal and nature oriented displays since the museum's founding in 1869. Bringing together, for the first time in one superbly organized and unique collection, the artistic contributions of this New York based museum of natural history, Windows On Nature gives readers a chance to see the many inspiring (and sometimes incongruous) works of contributors to the great historical museum diorama displays. Windows On Nature is especially recommend-ed for academic and community library collections, as well as American Museum Of Natural History visitors and those engaged in study of nature-oriented art.

This is a marvelous and beautiful book. It has great color photos of recreated natural settings--the dioramas that bring nature to life in the museum--and the text is a pleasure to read. The descriptions and additional photos not only tell about the scenes but provide innumerable details and stories about how they were made, and the very human and wonderful museum exhibition people who, with skill and ingenuity, created them--the world behind the scenes. Bravo!

The best memento you can get from your visit to this astonishing museum. My only regret is that, fifty years from now, these dioramas will be the only remains of a beautiful natural world that once was.

My father introduced me to the wonders of the American Museum of Natural History at the age of five.The Hall of African Mammals was the highlight of my first interest in the 1930`s.The dinosaur exhibit and ocean life can capture the imagination and fascination of any child.
Windows on Nature is a must have in the library of any one with an interest in Natural History.

If you like the Museum of Natural History and its dioramas and have seen the NY NY dioramas yourself,you will love this book. Some great insight on the background and history of creating the dioramas. Beautiful pictures of the dioramas that make it a great coffee table conversation starter, even if others aren't big fans of the idea of a diorama.

I have been going to the American Museum of Natural History since about age 4 (I am long past four...and even forty!) Unlike other things that were fun in childhood and diminish in interest with age, the American Museum of Natural History continues to fascinate me. This book has added a whole new dimension to that fascination.

I never fully appreciated the artistry that went into these dioramas - and it is not a hyperbole to say blood sweat and tears as several exhibition leaders were attacked by animals or died of illness collecting these specimens.

This book is a combination of beautifully done photographs (far better than anything you can get with your camera there), stories of the people that made the dioramas and extensive information on how the dioramas were made, covering the taxidermy, scene painting, and other modeling.

Read this before you visit and it will enhance your trip there. Read it after and you'll want to go back! Highly recommended.

A beautiful gem of a book. Fantastic photographs and great stories about the wonderful displays at the museum. A must for anybody who's spent some happy hours in the museum.

I enjoy the fact that this book not only has great photos, but also gives excellent insights into the entire process behind how the displays were made. Great.

This book is full of fascinating stories and discussions of the dioramas and their impact on animal drawing and animal conservation movement.
The pictures are excellent. Good for children just becoming interested in the field as well as adults. Highly recommended. mj