• Reflect on the historical evolution of Scientific Illustration (SI): understand how SI has developed over time, from the first anatomical drawings to modern techniques, and its role in scientific documentation throughout different periods.
• Explore the development of materials used in SI: understand the historical progression of artistic materials employed in scientific illustration, including pigments, inks, paper, and tools such as graphite and watercolors, and how these materials influenced the style and accuracy of the illustrations.

Module content

Introduction

•  Overview of the workshop’s structure and objectives;
•  Introduction to the interdisciplinary nature of scientific illustration: merging art with scientific observation.

The Historical Evolution of Scientific Illustration

• Origins and early examples: “scientific” illustrations in ancient civilizations;
• The Impact of the Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci and the combination of artistic skill with scientific investigation;
• The Age of Enlightenment: Botanical and zoological illustrations (Maria Sibylla Merian and Audubon) and the emergence of more formalized scientific documentation;
• 19th and 20th Centuries: The role of scientific illustration in natural history, anatomy, and exploration (Charles Darwin, John Gould);
• Modern Era: The impact of photography and digital illustration on science.

Exploration of Traditional Artistic Materials Used in Scientific Illustration

• Introduction to materials and their history: Pigments and Inks, Surfaces, Graphite and Charcoal, Watercolors and Gouache, with brief demonstrations.