The historic collection of glass marine animals by Leopold Blaschka (1822–1895) and his son Rudolf (1857–1939) was acquired by Cornell in 1885 for use in teaching in the sciences. This exhibition will feature a selection of these unique sculptures and the Blaschkas’ drawings following a 2016 exhibition at the Corning Museum of Glass.
Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.
Whether you go or not, Sea Creatures in Glass: The Blaschka Marine Animals at Harvard -- (from Harvard, not Cornell) illustrates with breathtaking new photography 60 of the most exquisite models from the exceptional collection of Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology. ... Bursting with intricate details and stunning images, this elegantly designed book will be a must for all those interested in marine biology, the delicate art of glass craftsmanship, the history of science, and the quiet beauty of the natural world. Delicate jellyfish and anemones, octopus, tentacled squid, and bizarre-looking soft-bodied sea creatures were meticulously recreated in glass by father and son artists Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka in the late nineteenth century. Renowned for their beauty and exacting detail, the Blaschka invertebrate models were commissioned by universities and museums throughout the world as teaching models for students of natural science and marine life.
