The notorious rift between art and science is bridged in Norman Penny's office. There, on almost any day of the week, one of a half-dozen artists is likely to be sitting with a rapidograph in one hand and the focus knob of a microscope in the other. From their pens slowly emerge the excruciatingly delicate patterns of insects' wings.
Nothing is more important here than the illustration's accuracy.
But when accuracy is achieved, beauty nearly always is, too. Penny, the Department of Entomology's collections manager, describes the illustrators as angels, doing work absolutely fundamental to the Academy's scientific mission, but often devoting their time for no pay. Hundreds of able illustrators have passed through the Academy's scientific departments over the years. On these pages is a selection of work by a few of those working here today. Looking at her flies, I see what she means.