Art, medicine, nature: pursuing the imitation of nature in and beyond the Royal Academy of Arts (360G-Wellcome-096425_Z_11_Z)

The focus of this research project is the teaching and writings of Dr William Hunter (1718-1783). This proposal has two key goals. The first investigates Hunter's research on extinction in animal species which brought him into contact with George Stubbs (1724-1806) and Thomas Pennant (1726-1798). The 'collaboration' between these three individuals resulted in Hunter's paper, 'An Account of the Nyl-ghau, .. .', published in Philosophical Transactions, London 1771; Stubbs's paintings of The Nyl-ghau (1769) and The Moose (1770); and Pennant's Synopsis of Quadrupeds, Chester, 1771, where he incorporated Hunter's descriptions at pp. 55-56.1 Given the importance of these works, the goal is to discover further evidence of their associations within the fine arts in the late eighteenth century. The second goal is to consider such activities alongside Hunter's position as Professor of Anatomy at the Royal Academy of Arts as constituting a range of interests that stimulated and enriched the quality of Academic pedagogy in its early years and promoted knowledge of natural history by means of artistic endeavour.