United States
£ GBP
In Mark Catesby's Legacy: Natural History Then and Now, Alan Brush, Emeritus Professor of Physiology & Neurobiology at the University of Connecticut, provides an important historical perspective on the scientific discoveries made by the Englishman Mark Catesby 1683-1749, who traveled in the Carolinas, Florida and the Bahamas three centuries ago. Professor Brush's observations are complemented by the delicate, contemporary paintings (inspired by Catesby's own beautiful drawings of fauna and flora) by his wife, M. J. Brush, a professional illustrator.
Mark Catesby's Legacy answers a question every Mark Catesby enthusiast must at some point ask: What has become of the natural world Catesby so uniquely chronicled in the early 18th century? This is a question the Brushes are qualified to address. Like Catesby, they have traveled throughout the Carolinas, Florida and Bahamas – primarily by sailboat – and described and painted many of the plants and animals featured in Catesby's magisterial two-volume folio The Natural History of the Carolinas, Florida and the Bahamas first published in London in 1731. It was so popular that it went through several editions in 1754 and 1771 and remaining in print at least until 1815. It influenced the works of Edwards, Linnaeus, Gould, Audubon and even Charles Darwin. It was used by President Jefferson and also by Lewis and Clark in planning their exploration to the West Coast.
While many of the species Catesby illustrated and described are still here in abundance, others face serious challenges to their survival, or are now extinct: sadly, for example, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the Carolina Parakeet and the Passenger Pigeon are no longer with us.. Mark Catesby's Legacy: Natural History Then and Now, Natural History Then and Now provides a fresh look at the rich diversity of life in a complex and enchanting part of the world in the early 21 st century and a must read for all naturalists and admirers of the work of Mark Catesby worldwide.
"[...] It must be noted, this is not a collection of images of Catesby’s own paintings, nor is it a commentary directly upon them (two things this reviewer initially expected it to be). Rather, it is best described as a series of extended reflections and meditations – both in images and words – upon the species depicted and places visited by Catesby. In those things, it is quite effective, often very enjoyable, and when so intended, thought-provoking. However it is also somewhat impeded by an overall organisation that can be both confusing and – it must be said – at times potentially irritating to the reader. This is unfortunate, as what is presented – when understood as to the intended purpose and scope – is most interesting. [...] Mark Catesby’s Legacy is indeed an accessible introduction to the travels and work of Catesby, in that it has the potential, particularly through the visual appeal of M. J. Brush’s illustrations, to reach an audience for whom Catesby’s importance in the development of the study of natural history may not yet be well known. However, for those seeking a presentation of and commentary upon Catesby’s paintings themselves, as well as a more extensive examination of his place in the history of natural history, The Curious Mister Catesby: A ‘Truly Ingenious’ Naturalist Explores New Worlds, edited by E. Charles Nelson and David J. Elliott would better satisfy such readers’ curiosities."
– Johannes (John) E. Riutta FLS, The Linnean 36(1), April 2020
"Mark Catesby's Legacy: Natural History Then and Now answers a question every Mark Catesby enthusiast must at some point ask: What has become of the natural world Catesby so beautifully chronicled in the early 18th century? This is a question the Brushes are uniquely qualified to address. Like Catesby, they have travelled through the Carolinas, Florida and Bahamas – primarily by sailboat – and described and painted many of the plants and animals featured in Catesby's magisterial work. M.J.'s paintings are bright and evocative; and some, like the Bachman's warbler, are sad. Alan's authoritative prose offers fascinating background on particular species Catesby illustrated (and considerably more expansively than Catesby himself did), in addition to examining the ecological status of the animals, plants and their habitats. Alan notes, for example, that the vast longleaf pine forests that once dominated the Southeast have been reduced to just three percent of their original range. This book will be a resource and a joy to anyone who is interested in the natural history of this region and the art of one of America's first and greatest naturalists."
– Dana Beach – Executive Director, Coastal Conservation League
"A fascinating reflection on how North America has changed in the nearly three centuries since Mark Catesby published the first account of North American flora and fauna. Visiting places Catesby studied, Alan Brush tells in words what we have learned and lost, and M.J. Brush evokes those changes in watercolors that echo Catesby's paintings from the era of passenger pigeons and ivory-billed woodpeckers."
– Jeff Hecht – Science Writer
"In Mark Catesby's Legacy, Natural History Then and Now Alan Brush's historical and scientific perspectives on the travels and discoveries of Mark Catesby in southeastern North America almost three centuries ago complement the beautiful, contemporary paintings made by his wife, M.J. Brush. The book provides a fresh look at the rich diversity of life that continues to flourish in a complex and enchanting part of the world."
– Robert McCracken Peck – Curator of Art and Senior Fellow, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
