Wolf

Cane Lupus
Gunflint Lake, Minnesota
Hall of North American Mammals

The wolf diorama is a wonderful orchestration of art and science. The northern woods scene, though scientific accurate, is an illusion perfectly executed by the combined efforts of the artists involved - background painter, taxidermist, and foreground artist. It is nature "theater" at its best.

James Perry Wilson's knowledge and understanding of meteorology and astronomy is apparent in his rendering of the background mural. The scene is looking north because of the shimmering and ghostly northern lights or aurora borealis that Wilson faithfully rendered in the sky. Wilson has, also, carefully rendered the constellations that would have been present in the winter night sky at this location.