Beaked Whale - Capturing Nature Print

Gerard Krefft leaning out of a gallery window, above a newly prepared skeleton of a Beaked Whale, Mesopladon. A charming moment of history behind the scenes at the Museum, captured by photographer Henry Barnes

In the 1870s most field collectors dealt only in animal skins or specimens preserved in spirits. Whole animals were difficult to prepare in the field, and flattened skins were far easier to transport and store. Skeletons were the exception. They were popular with visitors and sought after for display, even though articulating a skeleton, assembling each bone into its natural form, was slow and delicate work. Demand for that craft was high, and this photograph documents exactly the kind of prized skeleton display that drew people through the Museum's doors.

The perfect gifts for lovers of natural history and vintage photography and ephemera, the Australian Museum Shop is proud to offer a range of prints from the rich Museum photographic archive

Available in 3 print sizes:

• A4: 210 x 297 mm
• A3: 297 x 420 mm
• A2: 420 x 594 mm

A large format photograph, the aspect ratio does not fit exactly into modern paper sizes A4, A3 and A2. The image will be scaled to fit, in the most appropriate manner to the paper size selected, leaving the image frame visible and as close as possible to the paper edge

These high-quality, ready to frame archival images are giclee printed, on 330gsm cotton rag paper. 

Every purchase from the Australian Museum Online Shop supports the Museum's work in science, education and the care of more than 22 million specimens and cultural objects. It is an original, meaningful gift, backed by the reputation of Australia's first museum.

Please note: these prints are produced off site and require a processing time of 10–14 days.