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1855 Dinosaur nightmare of Crystal Palace
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1855 Dinosaur nightmare of Crystal Palace
" The effects of a hearty dinner after visiting the Antediluvian Department at the Crystal Palace" from Punch, Volume 28, 1855. The restorations of dinosaurs at the Crystal Palace in Sydenham Park were sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and overseen by Prof. Richard Owen. They were based on the findings of giant prehistoric reptiles across the previous half-century. To the Victorian public this realisation that dragon-like monsters were once quite real seemed like a validation of an imagined past of nightmare. Here an iguanodon, complete with its mistaken nose-horn, tugs at the sleepers bedclothes
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6347655
© PAUL D STEWART/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Antediluvian Black And White Buckland Caricature Cartoon Crystal Palace D Ream Dinosaur Iguanodon Mantell Monster Nightmare Plesiosaur Pre Historic Punch Richard Owen Satire Mono Chrome
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print takes us back to the year 1855, where a dinosaur nightmare unfolds within the grand Crystal Palace. The Antediluvian Department at this iconic venue was home to astonishing restorations of dinosaurs, meticulously sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins under the watchful eye of Prof. Richard Owen. The Victorian era was captivated by these larger-than-life creatures that once roamed our planet, and for them, it felt like a chilling validation of their darkest imaginings. In this satirical artwork from Punch magazine, we witness an iguanodon – complete with its now debunked nose-horn – playfully tugging at the bedclothes of unsuspecting sleepers. The mono chrome illustration transports us into a dreamlike state as we contemplate the existence of these monstrous beings that once ruled Earth. It is a whimsical yet eerie scene that captures both fascination and fear in equal measure. As we gaze upon this image, we are reminded of the tireless efforts made by scientists such as Gideon Mantell and William Buckland in uncovering fossil evidence over the past half-century. Their discoveries paved the way for Hawkins' remarkable sculptures and ignited public imagination about our prehistoric past. This print from Science Photo Library invites us to delve into an antidiluvian world where ancient monsters come alive through artistry and scientific inquiry—a testament to humanity's insatiable curiosity about our own history.
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