The creator of the most iconic images in 20th century evolutionary history was artist Charles R. Knight (1874-1953). While working for, under contract, the American Museum of Natural History, Knight's artistic vision was at times in contrast with the largest figure in early 20th century evolutionary thinking (and possibly one of the largest egos to match), that of Henry F. Osborn (1857-1953). In a recent article in History of Science (Seriality in the Making: The Osborn-Knight Restorations of Evolutionary History, 2010, vol. xlviii, p. 461-481). M. Sommer proposes that "Osborn established a serial workflow. Most of all, the definition of a series of working steps aimed to ensure that the paintings transmitted what for Osborn was the educational message of evolutionary history." However, as Sommer clearly shows, "the cooperation of 'science' and 'art' in the [mural] projects reveals that neither the series of working steps codified in contracts to steer production, nor the message communicated through the serial exhibit of the final murals, could be entirely controlled."
Photo: AMNH
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