DOI Heft:
No. 11 (February, 1894)
DOI Artikel:Miller, Fred: Taxidermy as an art
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17189#0175
Taxidermy as an Art
reproduction. In the Natural History Museum is known to most people. Among its most ex-
the majority of the modern cases are open all cellent and perhaps unique cases are those
round, and are simply boxes of glass; but when exhibiting what is termed Albinism in birds and
cases have solid backs it has been the custom to animals, and its opposite, Melanism; one, for
paint the background with sky, and even with a instance, showing the variation produced by breed-
landscape. This latter custom is more honoured ing in the common pigeon, another showing the
in the breach than the observance, for the artist adaptation of the colouring of animals to their sur-
who " does " the landscape painting has generally roundmgs, as in a very fine case of specimens of
a very rudimentary knowledge of the art—sum- finches and crows from Siberia,
ciently good to decorate an ice-cream barrow, but The two illustrations from the Booth Museum
hardly more than that—which gives the whole case are from photographs, retouched by hand, of the
the appearance of a toy village. In the Booth actual cases. The others, as I have said in pass-
collection the back boards are painted simply with ing, are from sketches made at the Natural His-
broad washes of a warm grey and pale blue, and this tory Museum, greatly reduced.
RAVENS WITH A DEAD HARE. BOOTH MUSEUM, BRIGHTON
is perhaps the best way of treating a background. There is a fine collection at Chester, and also at
What a skilful landscape painter could do in this Leicester,and Christchurch, Hants. There are many
direction I have had no opportunity of judging. good private collections, such as that of Lord Lilford,
A word or two on the collections to be seen in who is publishing a sumptuous work on " Birds" ■
England must close this desultory paper. I unhesi- but any amateur who desires to learn by looking
tatingly place the collection formed by the late can find all that is necessary in the collections I
E. T. Booth, and given by him to the town of have named. Many artists who wish to put birds
Brighton, in the first rank. He it was who, twenty- into pictures are at a loss for models, and are con-
five years ago, began his work of mounting under tent to hire indifferent cases from the nearest bird-
his own personal supervision ; the specimens he stuffer. They will find almost all they require
obtained, and the three hundred and odd cases in at South Kensington, and as the galleries are
the Dyke Road Museum, display knowledge, taste little frequented, they need not fear being
and skill, and though many collections have since disturbed while painting in the Natural History
been made, modelled on the Booth Museum, it is Museum. I speak from experience, having worked
still the most completely successful one to be there a good deal from time to time,
seen. Our national collection at South Kensington Fred Miller.
163
reproduction. In the Natural History Museum is known to most people. Among its most ex-
the majority of the modern cases are open all cellent and perhaps unique cases are those
round, and are simply boxes of glass; but when exhibiting what is termed Albinism in birds and
cases have solid backs it has been the custom to animals, and its opposite, Melanism; one, for
paint the background with sky, and even with a instance, showing the variation produced by breed-
landscape. This latter custom is more honoured ing in the common pigeon, another showing the
in the breach than the observance, for the artist adaptation of the colouring of animals to their sur-
who " does " the landscape painting has generally roundmgs, as in a very fine case of specimens of
a very rudimentary knowledge of the art—sum- finches and crows from Siberia,
ciently good to decorate an ice-cream barrow, but The two illustrations from the Booth Museum
hardly more than that—which gives the whole case are from photographs, retouched by hand, of the
the appearance of a toy village. In the Booth actual cases. The others, as I have said in pass-
collection the back boards are painted simply with ing, are from sketches made at the Natural His-
broad washes of a warm grey and pale blue, and this tory Museum, greatly reduced.
RAVENS WITH A DEAD HARE. BOOTH MUSEUM, BRIGHTON
is perhaps the best way of treating a background. There is a fine collection at Chester, and also at
What a skilful landscape painter could do in this Leicester,and Christchurch, Hants. There are many
direction I have had no opportunity of judging. good private collections, such as that of Lord Lilford,
A word or two on the collections to be seen in who is publishing a sumptuous work on " Birds" ■
England must close this desultory paper. I unhesi- but any amateur who desires to learn by looking
tatingly place the collection formed by the late can find all that is necessary in the collections I
E. T. Booth, and given by him to the town of have named. Many artists who wish to put birds
Brighton, in the first rank. He it was who, twenty- into pictures are at a loss for models, and are con-
five years ago, began his work of mounting under tent to hire indifferent cases from the nearest bird-
his own personal supervision ; the specimens he stuffer. They will find almost all they require
obtained, and the three hundred and odd cases in at South Kensington, and as the galleries are
the Dyke Road Museum, display knowledge, taste little frequented, they need not fear being
and skill, and though many collections have since disturbed while painting in the Natural History
been made, modelled on the Booth Museum, it is Museum. I speak from experience, having worked
still the most completely successful one to be there a good deal from time to time,
seen. Our national collection at South Kensington Fred Miller.
163