Animals have always lived alongside humans, and the species which currently populate the planet evolved in step with us. Human interactions with the natural world have long inspired elements in mythology, folklore, and art. Visual depictions of animals have served to decorate and illustrate written texts from early manuscripts, through the dawn of the printed book, and up to the present day. These illustrations are charming for their unusual art styles, and unconventional ideas about animals that we are now more familiar with seeing in zoos or on television screens. However, much of the natural world which has inspired human creativity throughout the centuries is now at risk of being destroyed through human interference. This exhibition showcases just some of the interesting examples of animal art that can be found in the manuscripts and early printed books held in the Special Collections of St John’s College Library, as well as presenting relevant facts about the animals themselves and the often sobering nature of their relationship to humans. - [Author]

Language: English