Canis Latrans
Yosemite Valley, California
Hall of North American Mammals
The perfect composition of this diorama features the prominent mountain El Capitan and Bridal Veil Falls. Foreground artist Raymond deLucia and background artist James Perry Wilson spent two days scouring the Yosemite Valley on bicycles to find the perfect site.
When Wilson and deLucia were working on the diorama back at AMNH, two museum visitors were standing watching Wilson about to paint over his beautiful charcoal sketches when one whispered to the other, "I hope he doesn't muck it up."