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.

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.