Art and Science Books
When the arts and sciences collide, they reveal a world of beauty, creativity, and discovery. The following collection of art and science books uncover the extraordinary intersection of these two worlds, curating heritage material to explore the evolution of art and science over the past centuries.
From timeless explorations on colour theory to anatomical masterpieces and breathtaking botanical studies, these titles not only reflect significant moments in both disciplines but also serve as enduring sources of inspiration for scientists, artists, and designers alike.
Whether you’re shopping for a curious artist or designer, or someone fascinated by the creative history of the sciences, these art and science books make thoughtful and inspiring gifts.
Creative Gift Books for Artists and Designers
“A treatise which ought to be in the hands of every mineralogist, and indeed in the possession of naturalists of every description.” – Inverness Courier, 1822
A key publication in the fields of natural history and art, this beautifully designed volume boasts a collection of 110 colour swatches that form the foundation of modern colour nomenclature. Derived from the colours found in the natural world, each swatch is poetically named, with instructions on their makeup, as well as where to identify them across the animal, mineral, and vegetable kingdoms.
Boasting an eccentric taxonomy that has attracted interest from scientists and artists for centuries, within these pages, you’ll find shades like the lyrically named Skimmed-milk White, Flax-flower Blue, and Sulphur Yellow. A young Charles Darwin utilised the unique classification system on his epoch voyage around the world in 1831, identifying his observations using the colours found in the volume.
A brilliant gift for creatives, scientists, and those interested in the history of colour, this articulate colour guide remains as useful in the classification of colour as it was when it was first published at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
“This work has a greater aim than mere illustration; we do not introduce colours for the purpose of entertainment, or to amuse by certain combinations of tint and form, but to assist the mind… to increase the facilities of instruction, and diffuse permanent knowledge.”–Oliver Byrne, 1847
First published in 1847 and uniquely beautiful in its presentation, Oliver Byrne’s edition of The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid was the first attempt to illustrate the classic books of mathematical theorems written by ancient Greek mathematician Euclid of Alexandria, originally penned around 300BC.
Euclid’s original treatise on geometry and mathematical theory laid the foundation for the modern study of geometry and has since become the cornerstone work in the history of mathematics. They have proved influential in the sciences, used by Galileo Galilei, Albert Einstein, and Sir Isaac Newton, who implemented the theories within Elements to aid their discoveries.
It has provided indispensable inspiration for twentieth-century art movements. With avant-garde groups like De Stijl and The Bauhaus using Byrne’s iconic colour, line work and form in many of their works. A key work for those in the design fields, as well as those with an interest in the history of geometry, this unique work showcases the artistic beauty found in mathematics.
“Haeckel’s splendid monograph, the flinty shells of which are amongst the finest artistic treasures of nature.”–Wilhelm Bölsche, 1906
First published in 1904, Haeckel’s detailed illustrations serve as a visual encyclopaedia for his pioneering research and anatomical discoveries. Featuring stunning depictions of various land and sea life, including jellyfish, sea anemones, and Radiolaria (miniscule, soft bodied organisms), the sketches were translated into a series of lithographic and halftone prints for publication.
Serving both a scientific purpose while boasting unparalleled aesthetic beauty, the unique collection of plates holds a lasting influence in both the art and science worlds. Utilising lithographic and halftone printing techniques, master lithographer Adolf Glitsch translated Haeckel’s illustrations into 100 highly detailed prints. The book’s striking images coupled with its innovative design inspired many artists of the Art Nouveau movement, with his organic, natural style finding its way into the work of William Morris and Antoni Gaudí.
The volume made a remarkable contribution to the fields of biology, art, and design, broadening our comprehension of the relationships between different forms of life. Over a century after their first publication, Haeckel’s elaborate lithographic, halftone prints continue to be an exceptional biological exploration, successfully marrying art and science.
“If the photograph in its early and imperfect scientific state was more consonant to our feelings for art, it is because… it was more true to our experience of Nature. Mere broad light and shade, with the correctness of general forms and absence of all convention, which are the beautiful conditions of photography… give artistic pleasure of a very high kind.”–Lady Elizabeth Eastlake, 1857
First published in 1853, this unique volume is an immersive showcase of Anna Atkins’ botanical prints. The delicate cyanotypes featured in these pages are some of history’s first photographs, capturing British and foreign ferns in deep Prussian blues and vibrant whites.
In a graceful celebration of art and science, each plant appears as if floating in water, the deep hue of the Prussian blue background provides an infinite depth in contrast to the delicate white details of each specimen. While they are impressions of static objects, the specimens hold an airy presence, their tendrils appearing in constant motion across the pages. This unqiue collection forms an immersive exploration of the ferns under inspection through each specimen’s tentative and artistic arrangement.
Capturing the magic of botany during the Victorian age, this beautiful volume from a lesser-known woman of science is stunning celebration of early photography and the natural world.
“Elegant in exterior… profusely as well as beautifully illustrated… embodying in its pages the scattered facts and floating fragments of knowledge which find their way into periodical literature, shall accredit every man with what justly belongs to him.” — The Medical and Surgical Journal, 1859
A scientific and artistic triumph, Gray’s Anatomy is one of the most iconic anatomical texts ever to be printed. One of the most distinguished texts on medical anatomy, the thoroughly illustrated pages of Gray’s Anatomy have provided generations of readers with an invaluable reference to the human form. The volume was originally produced in 1858 by two young medical professionals, Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter, as an accessible manual for medical students. Over the past two centuries, its practical approach to the subject has proved essential in the teachings of physiology, establishing a legacy like no other.
A beautiful art and science book, Gray’s Anatomy is a must-have for medical students and artists alike. This edition breathes new life into the early work while preserving the charm of this beloved classic of human anatomy.
‘One of the most magnificent works ever produced.’ — Samuel Miller, 1803
Originally published in 1705, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensis documents Merian’s research expedition to Suriname in 1699. Over the period of two years, the German naturalist observed many South American butterflies and moths, meticulously recording her findings in a series of 60 stunning full-plate illustrations. Her groundbreaking entomological observations, coupled with her unique artworks, emphasise her invaluable role as a pioneering woman in science.
Merian’s work transcends the boundaries between art and science, embodying the brilliant intersection where the two disciplines collide. Featuring 60 full plate illustrations of stunning butterflies, insects, and their native flora and fauna, this wonderful work is a testament to her enduring legacy. Showcasing the brilliant outcome of Maria Merian’s discoveries whilst celebrating her work as a mainstay of the arts and sciences, it makes the perfect gift for art lovers, butterfly enthusiasts, and scientists alike.
‘In her “Colour Problems,”… [Vanderpoel] has aimed to combine the essential results of the scientific and artistic study of colour in concise, practical form, and to classify the study of colour in individual eyes, in light, in history, and nature.’—Brush and Pencil, 1902-08
A key publication on colour theory from a pioneering female scientist, this unique work explores the world of colour, reimagining foundational theories for practical use in the fields of art, science, and design.
First published in 1902, Color Problems is a seminal work of Emily Noyes Vanderpoel, a pioneering artist, scientist, and scholar. Developing the colour theories established by Newton, Goethe, and their later compeers, Chevruel and Rood, this unique guide presents accessible colour science to appeal across the disciplines, breaking down key ideas in a series of experimental and visually stunning illustrations.
While underappreciated in its time, Vanderpoel’s expressions of colour not only changed the face of colour science but also anticipated major developments in modern art by nearly half a century, becoming influential for abstract artists like Josef Albers and the Bauhaus School of Art.
Explore the Art Meets Science Collection
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Art/Color TheorySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageEmily Vanderpoel’s Color Problems
£7.99 – £44.99 -
Animals/Butterflies & Moths/NatureSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageMaria Sibylla Merian’s Metamorphosis
£9.99 – £34.99 -
Human Anatomy & Physiology/Life Sciences/ScienceSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageHenry Gray’s Anatomy
£9.99 – £39.99 -
Artists' Books/Individual Photographers/PhotographySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageAnna Atkins’ Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Ferns
£9.99 – £24.99 -
Life Sciences/Marine Biology/ScienceSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageErnst Haeckel’s Art Forms in Nature
£9.99 – £28.99 -
Geometry/MathematicsSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageOliver Byrne’s Elements of Euclid
£9.99 – £33.99 -
Art/Color TheorySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageWerner’s Nomenclature of Colours
£9.99 – £22.99
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