Deep Illustrations

The rare and valuable book display, Deep Illustrations, draws together 19th-century scientific illustrations documenting creatures inhabiting marine and coastal environments.

When:

18 July - November 2024
 

Where:

Level 3 Main Library

In the 19th century, scientific illustrations of fish and other underwater creatures documented marine biodiversity before the advent of modern photography. Artists created detailed, vibrant depictions based on specimens collected by naturalists, serving as an important scientific record and captivating the public with intricate, sometimes fantastical representations. Scottish physician Robert Hamilton evocatively writes in The natural history of British fishes (1843) that these creatures have “strange forms, resplendent colours, kinds unnumber'd,—with swords, saws, spiral horns, or crooked fangs.” The meticulously crafted illustrations were often included in comprehensive natural history volumes, making them accessible to scientists and enthusiasts alike. Deep Illustrations draws together examples combining scientific precision and artistic beauty from UNSW Library’s collection of rare and valuable books.

Top image: Detail of a hand-coloured plate engraved by William Lizars after illustrations by James Stewart, Fifteen Spined Stickleback nest and eggs (1843) in The natural history of British fishes, (1843) by Robert Hamilton. Printed in Edinburgh by WH Lizars. KLN 597.0941/1 /(1)

Accessibility: UNSW Main Library is wheelchair accessible and the exhibition includes large-text artwork labels.

Image gallery

A view along a hallway with four glass display cabinets side-by-side. A man is looking into one of the displays. Close to the camera to the left is a column with a decorative sign reading "Deep Illustrations".

Deep Illustrations - view 1

A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish, hand-painted in bright reds, yellows and blues.

Deep Illustrations - view 2

A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish. The camera is focused on an illustration of two grey sharks.

Deep Illustrations - view 3

View of a hallway with four display cases filled with books. On the front of each display case is bold text reading, "Deep Illustrations".

Deep Illustrations - view 4

A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish. Each is painted in vibrant reds, greens, and browns.

Deep Illustrations - view 5

View of a single glass cabinet filled with books. In the background is a column with a large, decorative illustration of a long green fish surrounded by seaweed. This image stretches up to the ceiling.

Deep Illustrations - view 6

A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish. The camera is focused on a fish with long whiskers hand-painted in vibrant red and yellow.

Deep Illustrations - view 7

DI

Deep Illustrations - view 8

A view along a hallway with four glass display cabinets side-by-side. A man is looking into one of the displays. Close to the camera to the left is a column with a decorative sign reading "Deep Illustrations".
A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish, hand-painted in bright reds, yellows and blues.
A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish. The camera is focused on an illustration of two grey sharks.
View of a hallway with four display cases filled with books. On the front of each display case is bold text reading, "Deep Illustrations".
A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish. Each is painted in vibrant reds, greens, and browns.
View of a single glass cabinet filled with books. In the background is a column with a large, decorative illustration of a long green fish surrounded by seaweed. This image stretches up to the ceiling.
A view inside the glass display cabinet, containing three books with their pages open to illustrations of fish. The camera is focused on a fish with long whiskers hand-painted in vibrant red and yellow.
DI