Drawn to Nature: Gilbert White and the Artists

The natural world as seen through the work of British artists and writers including Eric Ravilious, Virginia Woolf and John Piper.Since its publication in 1789, Gilbert White’s Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne has inspired generations of artists, writers and naturalists. From Thomas Bewick to Clare Leighton, many artists’ depictions of animals, birds and wildlife have illustrated White’s celebrated book, together providing a microcosm of natural history illustration from the eighteenth century until today.In Drawn to Nature, Simon Martin has gathered joyful and beautiful images of the extraordinary array of wildlife described by White, providing an insight into the continuing appeal and relevance of the Natural History. This fascinating account takes us from some of the earliest published depictions of birds and animals, to pioneering nature photography, wood-engravings of the 1920s and 30s, and contemporary illustrators such as Angie Lewin and Emily Sutton. The book also includes an introduction to the life of Gilbert White by Sir David Attenborough, an essay by Virginia Woolf, poems by modern and contemporary poets, and a jacket design by Mark Hearld.Simon Martin is a curator, writer and Director of Pallant House Gallery. He has written numerous books on Modern British art, including on the artists Edward Burra, John Minton, John Piper, Colin Self, John Tunnard and Clare Woods, and historical studies such as Conflict and Conscience: British Artists and the Spanish Civil War.Sir David Attenborough is one of the UK’s most-loved broadcasters, and the Life series, which he writes and hosts, has helped to form a comprehensive survey of all life on the planet.