A Victorian Obsession: The Natural World Under Glass

Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Location: Library of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Spend an evening at the Academy of Natural Sciences with author John Whitenight as he explores the role that natural history played in the everyday lives of 19th-century people. During that era, the public developed an unprecedented obsession with the natural world. Whitenight will share images and information from his book, Under Glass: A Victorian Obsession, a comprehensive study of the incredible array of objects that were arranged and presented as decorative art. Included will be botanical arrangements made from wax and sea shells as well as domes and cases filled with beautiful birds of every description. Learn how the Victorians not only embraced natural history but also included it in their home décor.

John Whitenight developed an avid interest in art by age five and pursued this interest through an undergraduate degree in art education. He taught high school art for 30 years and also acquired a master’s degree equivalence in decorative arts-related studies in Philadelphia. Whitenight has been collecting glass domes and studying their history since 1973, when he received his first dome containing three preserved canaries. Recently highlighted in a New York Times article, his collection contains more than 175 richly varied domed displays.