The Art and Science of Ernst Haeckel. 45th Ed. - 40th Anniversary Edition (45th Edition)

A German evolutionary biologist and naturalist, Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919) was also an artist, philosopher, and physician, and spent his life studying flora and fauna, from the highest peaks to the deepest oceans.

A fervent defender and promoter of Darwin's theory of evolution, he denounced religious dogmas, wrote philosophical treatises, obtained a doctorate in zoology, and coined scientific terms such as "ecology," "phylum," and "stem cell," which are now in common use.

Central to Haeckel's immense legacy is his ambition not just to explore things, but to explain them. He thus produced hundreds of detailed drawings, watercolors, and sketches of his discoveries, which he published in several volumes, including collections on marine organisms and a particularly imposing one, Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature), the keystone of all Haeckel's work. 

A rigorous illustrated encyclopedia dedicated to living beings, Haeckel's work is remarkable for its graphic precision and its faithful nuances to reality as much as for its understanding of biological evolution. From bats to jellyfish, from lizards to lichens, not forgetting spider legs and sea anemones, the scientist highlighted the fundamental symmetry and order of nature, discerning an organic beauty in every one of its creatures.

This book pays tribute to the importance of Haeckel's work for science, art, and the environment through a selection of 300 plates from some of his most important volumes dedicated to marine biology, including Die Radiolarien, Monographie der Medusen, Die Kalkschwämme, as well as Kunstformen der Natur.

At a time when biodiversity is constantly threatened by human activities, this book offers both a graphic masterpiece, an exploration of the underwater world, and an eloquent reminder of life's precious variety.

This book pays tribute to the importance of Haeckel's work for science, art, and the environment through a selection of 300 plates from some of his most important volumes dedicated to marine biology, including Die Radiolarien, Monographie der Medusen, Die Kalkschwämme, as well as Kunstformen der Natur.

At a time when biodiversity is constantly threatened by human activities, this book offers both a graphic masterpiece, an exploration of the underwater world, and an eloquent reminder of life's precious variety.