The use of artwork to document geologic systems in The Geology of Russia (1845)

ABSTRACT Artwork in The Geology of Russia (1845) documents the extent and fossil content of several Paleozoic systems in Europe and large tracts of Russia. That artwork conveys a sense of landscape, portrays the distribution of strata both at and below the surface, and documents the fossil evidence for identifying several Paleozoic geologic systems. The artwork includes wood engravings, lithographs, zincographs, and copper plate engravings. The choice of technique was governed by the content and desired character of the images and the logistics of printing. Roderick Murchison was a master of organization who commissioned, assembled, and oversaw the production of artwork that was crucial to presenting the evidence for the Paleozoic systems documented in The Geology of Russia (1845).