Natura Mirabilis

In her essay, scholar Susana Neves unfolds twelve chapters devoted to as many works from the Gulbenkian collection, each revealing a close connection between art, nature and science: from ornithology to hydrography, via herpetology, meteorology and ethnobotany. Drawn from different cultures, historical periods and artistic fields – ceramics, painting, engraving, sculpture, goldsmithing, the decorative arts and literary publishing – these works shed light on the ways artists have looked at nature, at times adopting the outlook of a travelling naturalist, and in some cases that of an ecologist ahead of their time. Some attest to a surprising closeness to contemporary scientific knowledge and even direct contact between artists and scientists of their time. Others preserve the memory of a paradisiacal, untamed nature that has since vanished. Lavishly illustrated with the splendid works held by the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, together with comparative historical iconography and photographs of the Foundation’s gardens, including the interior courtyards, the volume is further enriched by contributions by the museum’s curators, which complement Neves’ reflections.