Skip to main content

Wilson, James Perry, 1889-1976

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: August 13, 1889 - August 12, 1976

Summary

After graduating from Columbia University in 1914 with a degree in architecture, James Perry Wilson worked as a draftsman for nearly twenty years until he lost his job during the Depression. He had no formal training and was largely a self-taught landscape painter with some early help from his family, who were artistically inclined. Wilson began his career at the American Museum of Natural History in 1934 as an apprentice under William R. Leigh, who was working on the background paintings for the Akeley Hall of African Mammals. Wilson developed many innovative methods and techniques in background painting, including a grid system for the transfer of an undistorted landscape onto the curved diorama background. By the time of his retirement in 1957, Wilson had painted thirty-eight diorama backgrounds at the American Museum of Natural History. His background paintings can also be found at the Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, Connecticut, and the Boston Museum of Science. (source: Steve Quinn, Windows on Nature, 2006)

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

American Museum of Natural History, Department of Preparation and Installation: Diorama and Hall construction

 Collection
Identifier: DR 104
Scope and Content Note This collection spans the planning and development of the Department of Preparations for the dioramas of the various halls. These folders detail the requests and expenditures for the efforts made in travel, models, and sketches. The majority of the correspondence is directed from or to James L. Clark, the Director of the Department of Preparations between the 1930’s-1940’s. Much of the correspondence from James Lippit Clark, is directed to trackers, guides, taxidermists, donors, and...
Dates: 1919-1962

Exhibition Tools and Materials

 Collection
Identifier: Mem 308
Scope and Contents Since its inception in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History had exhibitions related to the natural world, human cultures, and the universe. The habitat dioramas are predominantly featured in the Museum, with the first appearing in the late 1800s. A combination of distinct methods and tools was used to create the background, foreground, and taxidermy specimens that compose these exhibits, which improved with the advancement of technology and new knowledge.The exhibition...
Dates: Usage: circa 1887-1990s

James Perry Wilson at Devil's Tower and miscellaneous expeditions

 Collection
Identifier: PSC 55
Scope and Contents

One slide of James Perry Wilson painting at Devil's Tower, Wyoming. Other miscellaneous expeditions images include the Yangtze River, excavating the skeleton of a brontosaurus, a Blue Giant Anole lizard, and a Greta Cubana butterfly.

Dates: undated

[Study for Black Bear Group]

 Item
Identifier: Art Survey No. 498
Scope and Contents

Swamp in foreground and trees, coconut trees in background, sky visible above and through the trees.

Dates: circa 1930s

Sun Eclipse by the Earth as Seen on the Moon / LL "JP Wilson 1940"

 Item — Frame: 1
Identifier: Art Survey No. 3
Scope and Contents

Painting of rock landscape in foreground, earth and stars in sky. Conceptualization of the May 14, 1938 eclipse, second version.

Dates: 1940

Sun Eclipse by the Earth as Seen on the Moon / LL "J.P. Wilson/1938."

 Item
Identifier: Art Survey No. 1
Scope and Contents

Foreground mountainous, park landscape / middle left sun eclipsed by moon.

Dates: 1938

Additional filters:

Subject
Art Survey 3
Lunar eclipses -- Art. 2
Construction 1
Department Records 1
Museum exhibits 1