The book consists of two major sections, generic and specific. A landmark in popular ornithological literature, the unfeathered bird is a must for anyone with an appreciation of birds, bird art, or both. Accessible, jargonfree text the only book on bird anatomy aimed at the general reader. It represents deep research into not only comparative anatomy, but also physiology, bird behavior, body mechanics, taxonomy, paleontology and evolutionary biology. Accessible, and beautiful, books on adaptation and evolution for artists, scientists, and anyone interested in natural history. This is a coffeetable book, and compelling images are enough to sell such a volume, but the unfeathered bird delivers on the other promise of such books, not always fulfilled, that there. The unfeathered bird the truth about knees, ankles and preen gland can be found in the first 30 pages or so. It beckons to be read in detail and studied intently. Jan 29, 20 the unfeathered bird is a marvelous fusion of art and science with a playful edge.
We learn that genetic analysis unexpectedly confirmed. The unfeathered bird by katrina van grouw books on. And while the book is oversized, it isnt some coffeetable book destined for periodic browsing. She has degrees in fine art and natural history illustration.
A unique book that bridges art, science, and history over 385 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous largeformat book accessible, jargonfree textthe only book on bird anatomy aimed at the general reader. The unfeathered bird books by katrina van grouw view book. The internal anatomy of birds differs greatly among species. Even within this broad context, the descriptions accompanying the detailed sketches give new appreciation for even the. Dec 11, 2012 each and every section of the text material contains highly readable facts about our feathered friends.
Feb 12, 20 this is a coffeetable book, and compelling images are enough to sell such a volume, but the unfeathered bird delivers on the other promise of such books, not always fulfilled, that there. Thats pretty much a precis of the unfeathered bird art, history, geography, biology, evolution and birds, all rolled into one. Oct 23, 2018 the unfeathered bird, which focuses on bird skeletal anatomy and functional morphology, caused ripples in the palaeontological community upon release for being a book which looks at modern birds the way we look at fossil animals. Over 300 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous largeformat book. Books by katrina van grouw view book the unfeathered bird. This book is not an anatomy of birds, states the first line of the introduction to the unfeathered bird, by katrina van grouw. Over 385 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous largeformat book. A former curator in the ornithological division of londons natural history museum, the fine artist, based in. Jan 17, 20 roasted and eaten, the bones that remain tell the rest of the story a story more easily read if you reassemble the bird. Mar 05, 20 the unfeathered bird by katrina van grouw. Katrina van grouws book the unfeathered bird is a unique wonder that has joined the bird book firmament and as soon as i saw it i recognized it to be a. Nov 21, 2012 the unfeathered bird may be too unsystematic to suit everyone, but that is part of its charm. Broad conversation although her detailed drawings of bones, skeletons, muscles, and other internal tissues would not be out of place in a treatise on avian anatomy, van grouw intends them to reveal how birds appearance, posture, and behavior influence, and are. The unfeathered bird book begins with a discussion of the anatomy common to all birds.
With over 300 stunning drawings depicting 200 species,the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights. The unfeathered bird would be a remarkable and noteworthy book at any time, but i think that part of its success comes from the fact that it has appeared at a. Nov 25, 2012 a landmark in popular bird books, the unfeathered bird is a must for anyone who appreciates birds or bird art. The unfeathered bird by katrina van grouw goodreads. The unfeathered bird is the kind of book that i would have pored over every detail had i received it as an inquistive five year old. A unique book that bridges art, science, and historyover 385 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous largeformat bookaccessible, jargonfree textthe only book on bird anatomy aimed at the general readerdrawings and. Yes, today im looking at the unfeathered bird by katrina van grouw. Each exquisite drawing is made from an actual specimen and reproduced in sumptuous large format. A unique book that bridges art, science, and historyover 385 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous largeformat bookaccessible, jargonfree text the only book on bird anatomy aimed at the general readerdrawings and. Van grouw is a selftaught ornithologist with an interest in comparative anatomy, evolution, and the history of the. These cover what you might expect from a book on morphology, detailing the general skeletal and anatomical features of your average bird. My early anticipation of the unfeathered bird was that of a large book of beautiful works of art. Its the kind of inspirational book that would certainly fascinate the children of today and.
Mar 19, 20 the unfeathered bird is a rare book that can be appreciated equally from scientific and artistic perspectives. Shes a former curator of the ornithological collections at londons natural history museum, a taxidermist, a bird bander, and a fine artist. It may have even changed the course of my career perhaps leading me into another arm or wing. The unfeathered bird, which focuses on bird skeletal anatomy and functional morphology, caused ripples in the palaeontological community upon release for being a book which looks at modern birds the way we look at fossil animals. She includes plenty of text and information about the birds drawn, but fundamentally this is a bird art book more than an bird anatomy text unless you are a student of bird anatomy drawing. For the unfeathered bird and my next book, unnatural selection hein and i would discuss which position he should mount the skeleton in choosing something that would reflect the birds typical behaviour and particular anatomical features. With over 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights. From the ancients to audubon, there has been a special connection between the study of birds and the artists inspiration. The unfeathered bird is a pleasant departure from the sterile lab bench and formaldehydedrenched specimens typical of this books genre. The unfeathered bird katrina van grouw princeton university press. Its 304 pages and was published by princeton university press in 20. The illustrations, very much the heart of the book, are superbly realized.
Jan 31, 20 a landmark in popular bird books, the unfeathered bird is a must for anyone who appreciates birds or bird art. In her amazing book the unfeathered bird artist and writer katrina van. Jun 20, 2014 the unfeathered bird would be a remarkable and noteworthy book at any time, but i think that part of its success comes from the fact that it has appeared at a time when an interest in anatomy, in. The birds of the unfeathered bird the finch and pea. The unfeathered bird the plumage of birds, often gaudy, sometimes cryptic, is the feature most of us concentrate on when watching birds and clinching an identification. Jul 06, 20 but of course the core of the volume is the stunning collection of drawings that show the birds as the unfeathered creatures that the book title promises, or as clean skeletons in life poses, or anything in between, plus many drawings that show closeups of details of a skull or a feet that reveal some striking adaptation. Though originally intended as a tool for artists, the book is also rigorously scientific but without the burdensome. Then id just draw it, concentrating on getting all the proportions correct, before adding the. The unfeathered bird katrina van grouw santa monica. The unfeathered bird belongs as an aid to anyone studying ornithology, biology, evolution, or art. Katrina van grouws majestic new book, the unfeathered bird a masterpiece a quarter century in the making offers a uniquely powerful example of this intersection of science and art. The layers of the unfeathered bird the finch and pea. And as the author is at pains to point out in the introduction this book is not an anatomy of birds. Each and every section of the text material contains highly readable facts about our feathered friends.
A landmark in popular bird books, the unfeathered bird is a must for anyone who appreciates birds or bird art. Dec 07, 2014 the unfeathered bird the plumage of birds, often gaudy, sometimes cryptic, is the feature most of us concentrate on when watching birds and clinching an identification. A unique book that bridges art, science, and history. The gory details of artist katrina van grouws unfeathered. The unfeathered bird by katrina van grouw, hardcover. It is a beautifully illustrated book dealing with ornithology or it is a gracefully annotated picture book. With over 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into what goes on beneath the feathered surface.
The unfeathered bird may be too unsystematic to suit everyone, but that is part of its charm. The authors background as curator of the ornithological collections at londons natural history museum along with her expertise at taxidermy form the foundation for the book. The unfeathered bird bto british trust for ornithology. Valuable and informative, the work has an irresistible charm that will appeal to a broad audience. If youve read the acknowledgements in the unfeathered bird youll know that my husband, hein van grouw, cleaned and mounted virtually all the skeletons, took over all the housework duties and put up with me talking about the book, worrying about the book, and living and breathing the book 247 for several years. A landmark in popular bird books, the unfeathered birdis a must for anyone who appreciates birds or bird art. We learn that genetic analysis unexpectedly confirmed suspicions that new world and old world vultures. With over 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers. And just because birds evolved from a single flying ancestor doesn\t mean they are structurally all the same. The unfeathered bird katrina van grouw santa monica bay. That is to say, you wont find any difficult latin words or scientific jargon. But of course the core of the volume is the stunning collection of drawings that show the birds as the unfeathered creatures that the book title promises, or as clean skeletons in life poses, or anything in between, plus many drawings that show closeups of details of a skull or a feet that reveal. Katrina van grouw is a british science author, illustrator, and fine artist, best known for her illustrated natural science books the unfeathered bird and unnatural selection published by princeton university press. My copy of katrina van grouws the unfeathered bird demanded to be placed on my coffee table.
One of the nicest natural history books of the year, the. A beautiful volume of unfeathered lazarus birds updated october 2, 2018 on this spread from the book the unfeathered bird, drawings by katrina van grouw show the european nightjars comblike middle claw and the bird in flight. The unfeathered bird is a rare book that can be appreciated equally from scientific and artistic perspectives. Katrina van grouws new book the unfeathered bird is a work of passion. In the same way that everything about a cheetah says fast, everything about the unfeathered bird says coffee table book. With over 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into. Mar 05, 20 the unfeathered bird is a pleasant departure from the sterile lab bench and formaldehydedrenched specimens typical of this books genre. Each exquisite drawing is made from an actual specimen and. The unfeathered bird by katrina van grouw, hardcover barnes. Accessible, jargonfree textthe only book on bird anatomy aimed at the general reader.
The animals are meticulously reconstructed, detailed down to the last suture and often posed as if engaging in intriguing behaviours, such as the. Roasted and eaten, the bones that remain tell the rest of the story a story more easily read if you reassemble the bird. Jan 01, 2012 with over 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into what goes on beneath the feathered surface. Uk by katrina van grouw isnt about the anatomy of birds its about how their appearance, posture, and behavior influence, and are influenced by, their internal structure. The unfeathered bird is a marvelous fusion of art and science with a playful edge. A landmark in popular bird books,the unfeathered birdis a must for anyone who appreciates birds or bird art. A unique book that bridges art, science, and history over 300 beautiful drawings, artistically arranged in a sumptuous largeformat book. Katrina van grouw suitable for those who appreciates birds or bird art, this book features. The culmination of a twentyfive year project, the unfeathered bird is not simply about bones. A beautiful volume of unfeathered lazarus birds birdwatching. With over 300 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into what goes on beneath the feathered surface. With over 300 stunning drawings depicting 200 species,the unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into what goes on beneath the feathered surface. Though originally intended as a tool for artists, the book is also.
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