What is Natural History Illustration?

Can you imagine how the convicts, marines and free settlers felt when they first set foot in Australia, knowing that they had to make it into some sort of colony? The stress of those first few years with the threat of famine, the natural elements, particularly the heat, and not to mention all the strange flora and fauna. I think it would have been very overwhelming!

This period of our history is full of remarkable achievements, some of which involved the documenting of our native flora and fauna…and this is where Natural History Illustration comes in.

So what is Natural History Illustration (NHI)?

This is where science and art meet.

It’s the detailed study and illustration of the natural world around us. Some of those early settlers and even some convicts had a massive part to play in the early documentation of our native species.

Some painted and drew their subjects here in Australia and others painted their subjects from dead (& sometimes live!) specimens back in England. These drawings were used as iconotypes, which is the drawing that gives a species its original description and name. These drawings are still used by scientists today.

But in today’s modern world, isn’t a camera good enough?

Well, here’s the thing, an artist has to pay attention to every single detail to get the drawing accurate. In so doing, they notice things about their subject that a photo doesn't necessarily reveal.

For example, I remember drawing a dragon fly and noticing that their wings were actually symmetrical, identical veins through their wings and identical measurements. Not something you really think about when just looking at a photo. These little things help scientists learn more about their subjects. Artists are trained to carefully observe all the intricate details. NHI’s continue today as a helpful part of the scientific field.

NHI is also a great way to see the progression of art, from the very primitive artworks of early NHI's, such as those from George Raper, to the beautifully detailed and accurate works we see today, such as those from William T Cooper. It’s a great art history lesson!

Some artists dating from colonisation to modern times are George Raper, John and Elizabeth Gould (two very big names in NHI early on in Australian history. They were from England, but spent a brief period of time in Australia and they also worked with Edward Lear), Harriet and Helena Scott, Neville Henry and Neville William Cayley, William T Cooper and Peter Slater. These are some very well known names attached to drawings of Australiana.

You may have heard of Edward Lear for his nonsense limericks, but did you know that he started out as an Natural History Illustrator. His big focus early on in his life was the parrots of Australia! He made a massive contribution to the documentation of Australian species.

Natural History Illustration is such a fascinating topic that mixes art, science, history and even geography. A topic well worth exploring in your homeschool!

So, If you want to help your budding artist develop their drawing skills, then check out our lessons at Drawing Creation