Post by trehopr1 on Jun 14, 2020 7:05:41 GMT
Artwork of any kind is a very subjective thing. Everyone has their own opinion or differing appreciation for that which is presented by the artist. I suppose that I fit into the category of those who most "appreciate" what is being depicted in the most detailed and lifelike representation possible...
Show me a landscape rendering or even a well done still-life in all its detail and I am ..."captivated" at the sheer "natural" talent and eye towards detail (which only few people) truly possess. On the subject of science; "scientific illustration" and those whom specialize in it are masters at this rare craft. Nothing short of a crystal clear picture perfect photograph tops a well done scientific illustration ! A well done and complicated illustration of just about anything may take days and upwards of several hundred hours to produce. A masterpiece of work without question...
During the heyday of the early 1950's here in America the economy was strong and the lives of people in general were reaching a "high water mark" in terms of prosperity and growth. All these these "good vibes" trickled down to a great many things... The subsequent monies fueled many projects, dreams, and ideas which had been stagnated by the Great depression of the 1930's and the subsequent War Years and rebuild of the 1940's.
At the then "National Museum" or Smithsonian (as we now know it as) a project was undertaken to produce a field guide featuring the most commonly encountered lepidopteran species which novices might encounter. Produce it in a hand-held guide fashion (easy to carry); with good or "better" species representations and "bullet-point" information and then market it... Success was on the horizon !
The consultants (experts) were lined up and all that was needed was a "worthy" artist capable of the task at hand. A task of painstakingly done work with an eye to detail; and yet "marketed" for the masses or commoner's. Selected for that said task was Andre Durenceau.
Now, beyond his name and the magnificent works which he produced I can say "I know nothing more of the man" ! I have searched and tried to know and learn more of him --- to no avail. Yet, this man's artwork, talent, and capabilities speak for themselves when viewed upon the open page.
Below, I have pictured a field guide and book produced by Mr. Durenceau's steady hand, sharp eye, and detail of "structural proportions". At the time, nothing that I am aware of had been produced (in a great many years) with such detail and time investment as this artwork presented for the masses...
The field guide first came out in 1953 and has since undergone at least 3 revisions (in terms of text) over the years. And yet still, Mr. Durenceau's works remain un-touched or changed owing to the magnificent talent presented solely by this man... The larger book came out in 1963 and could be readily found in many a library for those looking for or needing information on something they had seen or encountered.
Below, I present some of the magnificent artwork found within the pages of both books!
Another worthy note about Mr. Durenceau's works is that he didn't just stop at producing fine works of adult butterflies; he also produced several very notable representations of lepidopteran larvae/chrysalids/cocoons as well (as evidenced below).
And still yet, Mr. Durenceau's talents were called upon to produce (where possible) foodplant representations as evidenced below...
To his credit I would have to humbly say that Mr. Durenceau's 186 works contained within both books serve as the "standard" by which all other scientific insect artworks are measured... Whether those works be for the masses or for those of more involved interest.
Others, have (here and there) come along with astonishing talent since Mr. Durenceau; and their talents too are well known such as William Howe. However, insect artwork or more specifically "scientific illustration" has become sadly a thing of the past...
The advent of better camera equipment and photographic methods over the last 35 years or so have made such time consuming and painstaking work prohibitively expensive. Hence, it is rarely produced nowadays.
I write this article in honor of a man of extraordinary talent. One of the faint voices within the hobby/science which can still be heard if you "lend an ear" saying: I was here, I made a difference, and my talent and efforts have helped shape (evolve) that which I have touched...
Show me a landscape rendering or even a well done still-life in all its detail and I am ..."captivated" at the sheer "natural" talent and eye towards detail (which only few people) truly possess. On the subject of science; "scientific illustration" and those whom specialize in it are masters at this rare craft. Nothing short of a crystal clear picture perfect photograph tops a well done scientific illustration ! A well done and complicated illustration of just about anything may take days and upwards of several hundred hours to produce. A masterpiece of work without question...
During the heyday of the early 1950's here in America the economy was strong and the lives of people in general were reaching a "high water mark" in terms of prosperity and growth. All these these "good vibes" trickled down to a great many things... The subsequent monies fueled many projects, dreams, and ideas which had been stagnated by the Great depression of the 1930's and the subsequent War Years and rebuild of the 1940's.
At the then "National Museum" or Smithsonian (as we now know it as) a project was undertaken to produce a field guide featuring the most commonly encountered lepidopteran species which novices might encounter. Produce it in a hand-held guide fashion (easy to carry); with good or "better" species representations and "bullet-point" information and then market it... Success was on the horizon !
The consultants (experts) were lined up and all that was needed was a "worthy" artist capable of the task at hand. A task of painstakingly done work with an eye to detail; and yet "marketed" for the masses or commoner's. Selected for that said task was Andre Durenceau.
Now, beyond his name and the magnificent works which he produced I can say "I know nothing more of the man" ! I have searched and tried to know and learn more of him --- to no avail. Yet, this man's artwork, talent, and capabilities speak for themselves when viewed upon the open page.
Below, I have pictured a field guide and book produced by Mr. Durenceau's steady hand, sharp eye, and detail of "structural proportions". At the time, nothing that I am aware of had been produced (in a great many years) with such detail and time investment as this artwork presented for the masses...
The field guide first came out in 1953 and has since undergone at least 3 revisions (in terms of text) over the years. And yet still, Mr. Durenceau's works remain un-touched or changed owing to the magnificent talent presented solely by this man... The larger book came out in 1963 and could be readily found in many a library for those looking for or needing information on something they had seen or encountered.
Below, I present some of the magnificent artwork found within the pages of both books!
Another worthy note about Mr. Durenceau's works is that he didn't just stop at producing fine works of adult butterflies; he also produced several very notable representations of lepidopteran larvae/chrysalids/cocoons as well (as evidenced below).
And still yet, Mr. Durenceau's talents were called upon to produce (where possible) foodplant representations as evidenced below...
To his credit I would have to humbly say that Mr. Durenceau's 186 works contained within both books serve as the "standard" by which all other scientific insect artworks are measured... Whether those works be for the masses or for those of more involved interest.
Others, have (here and there) come along with astonishing talent since Mr. Durenceau; and their talents too are well known such as William Howe. However, insect artwork or more specifically "scientific illustration" has become sadly a thing of the past...
The advent of better camera equipment and photographic methods over the last 35 years or so have made such time consuming and painstaking work prohibitively expensive. Hence, it is rarely produced nowadays.
I write this article in honor of a man of extraordinary talent. One of the faint voices within the hobby/science which can still be heard if you "lend an ear" saying: I was here, I made a difference, and my talent and efforts have helped shape (evolve) that which I have touched...
