Drawn to Nature Exhibit

The field of Natural History thrived between the 16th and 19th centuries as previously unknown parts of the world were explored. A few brave individuals sought to discover and observe new species of plants and animals, publishing their findings in ever increasingly lavish books. Featuring extraordinary loans from the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, visitors will experience these texts, spanning the 16th-20th centuries, in the Library’s Forrest E. Mars, Sr. Exhibit Hall. This exhibition is a partnership with the Oak Spring Garden Foundation.

Painting: John Gould (English, 1804-1881) and Elizabeth Gould (English, 1804-1841), “Pteroglossus Gouldii,” (detail) from Icones avium (London: Printed by C. Hallman, 1837). The John H. and Martha Daniels Collection.