Winter 2009
INSIGHT
Forms of Flight
Ernst Heinrich Phillip August Haeckel (1834-1919) was an eminent German biologist, naturalist, philosopher, physician, professor and artist, who, despite a long and controversial career, used his remarkable gifts as a scientist and artist to introduce the wonders of nature to millions.
In 1866, Haeckel traveled to the Canary Islands, where he met with Charles Darwin and began forming his own ideas about how evolution worked. In 1904, he published his best-known book, Art Forms of Nature. Designed to interest the general public in naturalism, the book included more than 100 images of mammals, plants, fish, reptiles, insects, spiders, marine invertebrates and microscopic organisms.
An exhibit featuring a series of fine-art reproduction panels depicting Haeckel's elegant illustrations of birds, plants and sea anemones, was put on display in the foyer of the FSU Fine Arts Building as part of the university's "Origins '09" celebration.
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