Image courtesy of Redpix.
Beautiful photographs of Leicester's wyvern inspired architecture can be found on the East Midlands Oral History Archive website (image above from this site, copyright Colin Hyde).
Matthew Sibson explores the medieval associations of the wyvern with Leicester in This Was Leicestershire .
The University of Leicester Special Collections holds copies of The Wyvern: a Topical, Critical and Humorous Journal.
For The National Archives 'Explore your Archive’ monthly hashtag campaign, which for May is #Green, Special Collections shares here some of its nature-themed collections while exploring their role in courses studied at De Montfort University and its predecessors.
The study of nature and natural forms has featured in a variety of courses throughout DMU’s history in both the arts and sciences. The rare books found in Special Collections today clearly supported this work and contain wonderful examples of various nature studies and diagrams demonstrating numerous styles and techniques. Just as importantly, they were most likely consulted as fantastic sources of inspiration and are still used in this way by students today from a range of subjects.
DMU’s predecessor, the Leicester School of Art was founded in 1870 and the study of natural objects was considered of vital importance for artists in training. In 1910 students at the School would participate in classes that involved drawing from natural objects, plant forms, anatomy and landscape.
Studies progressed in particular order, beginning with training in modeling simple natural forms, then copying from existing works before being allowed to draw real-life models. In the 1950s this sort of basic training was still considered essential, with classes at the College of Art including “general drawing, still life, natural form, life and costume” and “plant drawing or life drawing”.
Nature themes and bucolic scenes thus featured in many works produced by staff and students on a variety of art and design courses, such as these found in the College of Art Diaries. A showcase of student art work, the collection charts developments and trends in printing, typesetting and lithography from the 1930s to the 1960s. From left to right: Rigby Graham, 1954; Raphael Tajpowsky, 1951; June, 1948.
Art and science combine in the field of anatomical, botanical and zoological illustration. Until photographic technology improved, drawing detailed images was the best way to convey scientific information about nature, be it plant or animal life.
The Leicester Technical School was founded to provide basic science education to Leicester’s working classes, and this included botany which was first intended for pharmacy students. By the 1950s these classes had expanded into a Department of Biology which taught botany, zoology, physiology and applied biology – the latter including evening classes in the Science of Meat for butchers, classes on the anatomy of the foot for boot and shoe industry, horticulture and industrial bacteriology.
In the time of Leicester Polytechnic the Department of Biology was renamed as the School of Life Sciences, teaching “biological disciplines” with an emphasis on applied aspects, supplementing lectures with practical work. These included expeditions to the Orkneys, Arctic Norway, Greenland and the Shetland Islands. Today, DMU continues this long tradition with a Biomedical course.
As well as the joys of formal study, for many, spring always brings a renewed interest in observing and enjoying nature. The activity of connecting with our natural surroundings has long been regarded as integral to wellbeing whether that’s noticing the birds gather materials for nests, tree branches gradually filling out with leaves or carefully tending or observing seedlings in our local parks or gardens. Combining both approaches, you could always have a go at a life study!
The above poems reads:
'Enterprise'
Take joy in action stretch thy wing!
Mark high above thee frolicking
In rapid flight, yon airy thing. And do the same.
If yet thou’rt in the spring of life,
Youth in freshness, vigour rife,
Fill a part in wholesome strife
And earn a name.
If the warm summer of thy days
Surround thee with meridian blaze
Dare thou the fire with steady gaze,
For there shines fame.
But if the labour of thy soul,
Hath rear’d the grape, and fill’d the bowl,
Till nature’s riches round thee roll,
Use well the same.
All sources are available to view in Special Collections based in the Kimberlin Library once opening hours resume.
D/009 Marketing for DMU and Predecessors
D/025 Leicester College of Art Diaries
D/031 Research Reports DMU and predecessors
D/077/G/02/02 Examples of lithography, typography and bookbinding by students, 1905-1932
Bacon, M. A. and Bateman E. L. Winged Thoughts. London: Longman and Co., 1851.
Bewick, Thomas. A History of British Birds Vol 1-6. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1885.Ingram, John. Flora Symbolica or the Language and Sentiment of Flowers. London: F. Warne, c 1870.
Marshall, John. Anatomy for Artists. London: Smith Elder and Co., 1883.
Pratt, Anne. Wild Flowers Vol. 1 & 2. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1852 & 1853.
Warner, Robert and Williams, Benjamin. The Orchid Album. London: Williams, 1882.