Scientific Images at Museum Victoria

Wednesday, 23 August 2006 14:37

Melbourne , Australia - To celebrate National Science Week, a website featuring never-before-seen images by Ludwig Becker, John James Wild and other 19th century artists is being launched at Melbourne Museum.

The website, Caught and Coloured: Zoological Illustrations from Colonial Victoria, is the highlight of the Crosbie Morrison Memorial Lecture to be given by John Kean, Museum Victoria’s 2004 Thomas Ramsay Science & Humanities Fellow.

Featured on the website are images from the Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria, by Museum Director Professor Frederick McCoy.  The Prodromus is acknowledged as the first comprehensive description of the fauna of Victoria.  Published between 1878 and 1890, the original project showcased illustrations and text on 447 individual species.  At least 250 more species were printed but never published, a further 500 were drawn, and the Caught and Coloured website is the first time many of these images have been published.

Before the popularization of photography, artists were essential to science.  They provided an empirical eye and the capacity to accurately record images of animals and plants, while emphasizing their unique and diagnostic features.

Philip Crosbie Morrison was a pioneer naturalist, environmentalist and natural history broadcaster from 1938 to 1958. This lecture is named in his honor, and is the major annual lecture presented by Museum Victoria.

The Crosbie Morrison Memorial Lecture is a highlight of National Science Week activities at Museum Victoria www.museum.vic.gov.au

To view the website, visit www.museum.vic.gov.au/caughtandcoloured