MATTHEW T. CARRANO is Curator of Dinosauria at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He studies the evolutionary history, functional morphology, and ecology of dinosaurs. KIRK R. JOHNSON is the Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He has authored several books including Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway. JAY MATTERNES is a renowned paleoartist whose work is in the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the American Museum of Natural History, and has also appeared in National Geographic, Time-Life Books, and more.
"These gorgeous depictions of life during different eras, covering
the evolution of dinosaurs and other creatures over the past more
than 50 million years, are entertaining and informative to look
through, bringing animals who lived long ago to 'life.' The murals
trace the evolution of different groups of mammals over time, and
the murals’ huge size manages to both cover a large area and
include fine detail. Because these pieces of art were made several
decades ago, they also demonstrate how scientific knowledge and
understanding can change over time. [...] This artwork is so
beloved that those in charge deemed it important to document them,
in full and in great detail, in this wonderful book. If you’re a
fan of ancient life, or love animal and plant art,
then Visions of Lost Worlds: The Paleoart of Jay
Matternes is for you." – GeekDad
"A beautifully produced love letter to Matternes’s palaeoart.
Written by the museum’s Curator of Dinosauria Matthew T. Carano and
director Kirk R. Johnson, in close collaboration with Matternes
himself, this large-format art book offers an unparalleled look at
these murals and the artistic process of making
them. [...] A large part of each chapter shows blown-up
sections of the mural, revealing details that are easily missed.
This highlights, for example, Matternes’s love of painting animal
faces and feet. Furthermore, Matternes has contributed a huge
number of sketches and studies from his archives, showing the
painstaking work that went into each animal shown on the
murals. On many of the sketches you will find the original
handwritten notes, thoughts, and corrections that Matternes jotted
down as he was working. What is especially sweet is that the size
of their reproduction here allows you to read almost all of
them." – Natural History Book Service
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