THE NEW WHARF-PILE GROUP 



[Editorial comment and notes on the construction of the group] 



FROM the standpoint of faithful reproduction of nature, there is no 

 group in the American Museum of Natural History that surpasses 

 the new marine group constructed under the supervision of Mr. 

 Roy W. Miner. From the standpoint of general artistic effect, there is no 

 very large number perhaps that compare with it. It is without doubt one 

 of the most beautiful groups thus far constructed in this Museum, although 

 differing so greatly in character from the three or four masterpiece mammal 

 groups, the habitat bird groups and the frog group that comparison is 

 difficult. 



Its chief claim artistically, outside of what is inherent in the subject 

 itself, lies in its handling of color and illumination. These have been so 

 controlled as to produce distance in the scene above water and a depth and 

 gradation of depth that give very unusual illusion under water. The 

 splendid success of the group results in large part of course from the clever 

 management of mechanical details of construction, and it may be said that 

 there are few blemishes to be discovered by even the most critical eye. 

 What this implies in an intelligent control of technical work can scarcely 

 be appreciated except by the trained museum man, although a compara- 

 tive study of groups in many museums will enforce the fact of the excep- 

 tional excellence to the most casual observer. 



The following notes given by Mr. Miner concerning the mechanical 

 work on the group will be enjoyed both by those who are directly interested 

 in Museum constructive work and by the visitor who is merely curious as 

 to how realistic effects have been produced: 



The group is based on actual observations in the Woods Hole region, the life 

 depicted being a faithful copy of that actually seen on the piles of wharves, especially 

 on abandoned wharves whose piles have not been scraped. The abundance and 

 beauty of this life are in no way exaggerated in the group and the life associations 

 shown are possible anywhere in the Woods Hole region, although most of the direct 

 studies were made at Vineyard Haven, six miles from Woods Hole village. In the 

 field a miniature sketch model showing the composition of the future group was- 

 constructed. Then living specimens of the animals were removed from the piles 

 and brought into the laboratory where they were kept alive in sea-water aquaria. 

 Studies were made of them with and without the microscope, and they were sketched 

 in color and photographed. The Museum photographer in New York was sent for 

 to make the photographs for the transparency backgrounds, while dissections and 

 enlarged drawings were prepared for use in constructing enlarged models for the 

 accompanying synoptic series in the Darwin hall. 



At the close of the summer season in the field, work on the group was continued 

 in the Museum. First a wooden framework for the full-sized group was made by the 



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