The Art of the Scott sisters: Secondary drawing unit

An Acknowledgement of Country is a statement that pays respect to the Traditional Custodians of the Country that you are learning or meeting on and recognises their ongoing relationship with Country. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the Custodians of the land on which the Museum stands.

Which First Nations Country or Nation was your school built upon? If you are unsure contact a local First Nations organisation to find out. You might like to start with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.

Ask your students to write an Acknowledgement of Country for your school. To get them started, read more about why an Acknowledgement of Country is important and how to write one in this ABC article.

Case studies- Historical naturalist artists

Albertus Seba (1665–1736)

Find illustrations from Saba's book, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities to help you answer the following questions:

• How are animals arranged on the page? Are they shown in a natural setting or more like a collection/display?
• What does the composition of each page tell you about how people in Seba’s time viewed nature?
• Why do some animals look exaggerated or unusual?
• How does Saba's art reflect early scientific classification or curiosity about “exotic” species?
• What role did collecting (specimens, curiosities) play in his illustrations?

The Scott Sisters, Harriet & Helena Scott (1830s–1907)

Use the following links to help you answer the following questions:

The Scott sisters collection

Butterfly and moth sketches from the Scott sisters

• How do the Scott Sisters show the life cycle of insects in their illustrations?
• Why is including host plants important in their work?
• What level of realism do the sisters achieve in their illustrations, and how might they have achieved it?
• How do their illustrations combine art, science, and storytelling?
• What challenges would Harriet and Helena Scott have faced as women working in science and illustration in the 19th century?

Elizabeth Gould (1804–1841)

Use the following links to help you answer the following questions:

The Birds of Australia: in seven volumes 01

The Birds of Australia: in seven volumes 02

• How are birds posed in Elizabeths illustrations? Do they look alive and active?
• What role do colour and texture play in her work?
• How do background elements (plants, habitat) support scientific understanding?
• How might her work have contributed to scientific knowledge and public interest in Australian birds?
• How does collaboration (e.g., working with John Gould) influence authorship and recognition?

Learning intention:

• to explore how drawings are used to convey scientific understanding and artistic beauty, and how purpose influences style

Teachers notes:

Provide your students with two different images of an insect or living creature presented in two different styles- scientific and artistic.

Student activity

Examine two drawings provided by your teacher:

1. What is the purpose of Drawing A and Drawing B?
2. List three differences you notice between the drawings.
3. Which drawing do you think is easier to learn scientific information from? Why?
4. Which drawing is more visually engaging? Why?

Complete the table below using your observations:

Drawing task:

Using the internet or resources in your classroom, choose an insect specimen to draw in two different styles. Use your VAPD to document your process.

Science drawing

1. Use the following conventions to draw your specimen as a traditional scientific drawing (like you would in your science class).

• clear, neat outline
• no shading
• correct proportions
• labels with straight horizontal lines
• title include
• scale if possible

Art drawing

2. Focus on observation and artistic interpretation

• Use shading, tone and colour
• include texture and detail
• consider composition (placement on the page)
• try to capture the character of the subject.

Reflection

1. What was different about how you approached each drawing?
2. which drawing required careful measurement and accuracy? Why?
3. Which drawing helped you observe more details? Explain?
4. Why do scientists follow strict drawing conventions?
5. How do artists add meaning or interest to scientific subjects?

Visit and explore our exhibitions which showcase the historical art from Australia. Our 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum exhibition showcases 100 objects that tell the story of Australia, alongside the stories of 100 of Australia's most influential people. And the temporary Art of the Scott sisters exhibition showcases the story of the Scott family and their collection of Lepidoptera illustrations and their fathers journals.

This 90-minute program is designed for Stage 4 and 5 Visual Arts students, supporting the development of observational drawing skills and an understanding of historically significant art.

Students will explore the lives and work of the Scott sisters, learning why their illustrations are valued by the Australian Museum, as well as by entomologists, naturalists, and artists. The program includes a practical drawing component, where students will strengthen their artistic practice and observational techniques.

Working closely with Museum Lepidoptera specimens, students will draw from real-life sources, focusing on fine detail, accuracy, and careful observation.

Access an audio guide of the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum collection at the Australian Museum website here.

You have been asked to write a reflection from The Art of the Scott sisters program in your Visual Arts Process Diary (VAPD).

Make sure you:

• Print off photos of the specimens from the program and glue them into your VAPD.
• Glue in your three sketches from the program
• Glue in your final sketch from the program
• Annotate your sketches with short descriptions of the specimens and the materials you used.

Reflection prompts:

• Explain what you learnt about the Scott sisters significance to science and the arts.
• Outline what you did in the program.
• Write three things you learnt from the program and explain how they can be applied to your own art practice. For example, drawing techniques and watercolour techniques etc.
• Were there any challenges or concepts covered in the workshop that you plan to explore further in your art practice?