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An Art Exhibit on Dinosaurs and the Nature of Science

The art of restoration is a key part of the science of paleontology because we are not able to observe the animals we study alive. Paleontological restorations are a complex combination of art and science – of inference from empirical observations, comparison to modern forms, and creative interpretation. Art is not a mere servant of scientists, passively illustrating their ideas. Paleontological art may lead as well as follow and may have an enormous effect on which ideas are widely favored by scientists and which are well known to the general public. It can also reveal much about how the scientific process works. Dinosaurs in particular have generated a huge volume of art in a variety of media, offering an opportunity to examine this relationship. A temporary exhibit at the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) in Ithaca, New York in early 1999 explored the connections between paleontological art and science, focusing especially on dinosaur paintings, sculptures, and toys.