Strange Science

John and Peggy Maximus Gallery

Ended September 2, 2019

Colorful engravings of snakes, lizards, frogs, shells, insects, birds and plants will line the gallery walls this summer when we feature original prints based on a famous 18th-century cabinet of curiosities.

Albertus Seba was a wealthy Dutch apothecary who compiled a vast collection of natural specimens in an attempt to produce an overall picture of the world. These fascinating, quirky, and bizarre compositions sometimes appealed more to curiosity than science.

Unusual examples of the taxidermist’s art will be featured as we discuss the role of preserving specimens in museum collections.