Cover of Windows on Nature

"Windows on Nature: The Great Habitat Dioramas of the American Museum of Natural History" written by Stephen Christopher Quinn.

In "Windows on Nature," the first and definitive book on the museum's world-renowned habitat dioramas, author Stephen Christopher Quinn guides readers through the museum for a dazzling look at nature, science, and art that is sure to inspire readers young and old alike.

This richly illustrated volume features vibrantly detailed full color photographs of more than forty dioramas, rare and never-before-seen historical images from the museum's archives, and informative, entertaining descriptions of each diorama and its creation. Quinn's behind-the-scenes tour of these three-dimensional marvels introduces us to an extraordinary group of explorers, naturalists, painters, sculptors, taxidermists, and conversationists whose brilliance, passion, and eccentricities illuminate their creations. This unique showcase offers an exclusive look at the fascinating and sometimes mind-boggling techniques of diorama making, the development of dioramas as an art form and as a tool for wildlife conservation, and the museum's preeminent role in the history of the art in the service of science.