A Cowrie, and a Larger and Two Smaller Shells 1680 - 1750

This still life of seashells was rendered in colored pencil on paper by an anonymous artist. The composition is simple, and the artist has used a range of muted colors to create a sense of depth and texture. Although this work is not signed, the close observation of the shells and the detailed rendering suggest a highly skilled hand. The image shows how the tools of drawing can serve natural science. The anonymous artist applied colored pencils in layers to build up the forms of the shells. The careful attention to detail and the naturalistic rendering suggest a scientific interest in the shells themselves. The act of drawing becomes a way of understanding and documenting the natural world. The drawing could be considered alongside the work of scientific illustration, which also seeks to capture the natural world with accuracy and precision. By blurring the lines between art and science, we come to a fuller appreciation.