Spend an evening at the Academy of Natural Sciences with author John Whitenight as he explores the role that natural history played in the everyday lives of 19th-century people. During that era, the public developed an unprecedented obsession with the natural world.

Mr. Whitenight will be sharing images and information from his book, Under Glass: A Victorian Obsession, a comprehensive study of the incredible array of objects that were arranged and presented as decorative art. Included will be botanical arrangements made from wax and sea shells as well as domes and cases filled with beautiful birds of every description. Learn how the Victorians not only embraced natural history but also included it in their home décor.

John Whitenight developed an avid interest in art by age five and pursued this interest through an undergraduate degree in art education. He taught high school art for 30 years and also acquired a master’s degree equivalence in decorative arts-related studies in Philadelphia. Whitenight has been collecting glass domes and studying their history since 1973, when he received his first dome containing three preserved canaries. Recently highlighted in a New York Times article, his collection contains more than 175 richly varied domed displays.

Lecture 6:30 p.m.
Q&A and Book Signing to follow
Academy Library, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Free and open to the public, registration requested at: http://underglassbook-ans.eventbrite.com/ 

This event has reached capacity. However, John Whitenight will also be speaking on Thursday, October 17 from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Wagner Free Institute of Science. His talk will focus on whimsical taxidermy and decorative arts from the Victorian era. For more information, click here: https://whimsicaltaxidermy.eventbrite.com/