A great publication on the works of one of the masters of Paleoart, 236 paginas As a kid, I remember seeing the murals of Matternes in the Smithsonian halls of prehistoric mammals back in the 90s. Since then, Matternes has been my favorite paleoartist, and was probably the main reason my interest in prehistoric mammals slightly eclipses that of dinosaurs. As a kid, I hung on to the few magazines I could find that featured only bits of his art, because unfortunately there was nothing else, and I would have done anything for an artbook or prints. So when I found out a book of Matternes' art from the Smithsonian had been released, I was ecstatic like a little kid again, and ordered it almost immediately. I know one submitted review stated that the book featured five of Matterneses Pleistocene murals as well as some featuring dinosaurs, and I would like to make a correction there; his Alaskan Pleistocene mural is there, as well as murals featuring the early Eocene, late Eocene, late Oligocene/early Miocene, late Miocene, and Pliocene. Each of these is featured in its own chapter and accompanied with in depth production sketches, a key to identify the animals, journal entries, and zoomed in parts of the murals. In closing, this book is an absolute must have for collectors of paleoart, lovers of the Smithsonian, and fans of prehistoric life. 236 paginas Book wonderful 236 paginas I've hesitated to write this review for a long time now. On the one hand, it really is a beautiful and well written book, and about a much neglected but extraordinary artist. On the other hand, the title makes it sound like it covers the career of Jay Matternes, when in fact it focuses almost exclusively on the work he did for the Smithsonian, particularly his work on the evolution of North American mammals. Don't get me wrong, that work is important, and stunning, and fully deserves a book like this. And the contents of book are worthy of the subject.Nonetheless, the title is seriously misleading. I mean, it barely mentions (if at all) the iconic work he did for the Time Life natural history books, which were so influential on my generation, among many other works. So I was in a dilemma, since I didn't want to give a low rating to a book about an artist who deserves to be much better known, and that covers what it covers quite well, even if it has a misleading title. Fortunately, now that Jay Matternes: Paleoartist and Wildlife Painter by Richard Milner is about to be published and I have an opportunity mention it, I don't feel like I am in a dilemma.Anyone can see that Matternes is a genius, but it might take some experience in wildlife art (and especially knowing how much contemporary artists rely on photography) to to fully appreciate Matternes' abilities. Obviously, none of his work in this book was copied from photos. Nor could the scenes have been set up via computer graphics, given the era n which they were made. But his genius goes far beyond that when you realize how each mural portrays a very different type of daylight and perspective, combined with an extreme complexity of setting (and of course Matternes' widely acknowledged genius for morphology and behavior).Also, the background information about what is going on in the various scenes depicted is fascinating.So regardless of the title, if this kind of work pulls you, don't hesitate to pick up a copy. It is well worth the price. Just keep in mind that there is much to Jay Matternes' career. 236 paginas excellent reproductions 236 paginas
A lavish showcase of paleoartist Jay Matternes's spectacular murals and sketchesFor half a century, the artwork of Jay Matternes adorned the fossil halls of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. These treasured Matternes murals documenting mammal evolution over the past 56 million years and dioramas showing dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era are significant works of one of the most influential paleoartists in history. Simultaneously epic in size and scope and minutely detailed, they also provide a window into the study and interpretation of vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology. Visions of Lost Worlds presents these unparalleled works of art, and also includes the sketches and drawings Matternes prepared as he planned the murals. Known for his technical genius and eye for detail, Matternes sketched from skeletons in museum collections and added muscle, skin, and fur to bring mammals and dinosaurs from prehistory to vivid life. This book offers a close look at these works of art, a peek inside the artist's process, and an examination of the works' impact and legacy. Visions of Lost Worlds: The Paleoart of Jay Matternes