A new exhibition at the British Library explores the animal kingdom through illustrations from some of the most well-loved and historically important books.
From Peter Rabbit to Paddington Bear, the animals we encounter in literature, especially as children, have a profound ability to imbed themselves in our hearts. A new exhibition at the British Library, Animal Tales, explores the relationship between readers and the birds and beasts through some of the most iconic animals in literature.
Situated in the British Library’s Entrance Hall Gallery, the show spans several centuries of the Library’s collections, ranging from one of the earliest illustrated printed editions of Ovid and one of the first ever children’s picture books, 1659’s Comenius’ Orbis Sensualium Pictus through to contemporary works like Art Spiegelman’s holocaust-themed graphic novel Maus.
On display are gems like Gilbert White’s The Natural history of Selborneand its antiquities, which was annotated by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and bound by Mrs Wordsworth, the artwork for Helen Macdonald’s recent hit H is for Hawk and some impressive examples of book-making, such as a pop out jig-sawed book by the artist Karen Bleitz inspired by Dolly the sheep.
Animal Tales
British Library, London
Until 1 November 2015
bl.uk