3 artists who made startling contributions to the world of science 

Science and art are as two distinctively different fields. But there is one similarity between them and that’s a huge one. Both are philosophies at the end and seek the truth of life. This is evident in the works of some of the most renowned inventors and artists in history, who merged science and art to create ground-breaking innovations. You might already know a few of these artists but will be surprised to learn about their contribution to science. Some of the most notable examples include Samuel Morse, an American painter and inventor; Italian artist and all-time great Leonardo da Vinci and John James Audubon, an American artist and ornithologist. Let’s learn how they enriched the field of science.  

Samuel Morse  
Samuel Morse, born in 1791 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, was a famous inventor. But not many people know that he was also a renowned painter! Samuel Morse began his career as a painter before venturing into science and inventing the telegraph and the Morse code! His artistic skills are evident in his portraits and ambitious works, some of which are now on display at the Louvre Museum of Art in Paris. Morse has given us some astounding Neoclassical-style paintings. His notable works include the six-by-nine-foot Gallery of the Louvre. He also created portraits of famous personalities, such as Eli Whitney (an American inventor) and John Adams (the second president of America, 1831–33). These paintings attest to his well-honed skill as an artist.  

Despite his artistic accomplishments, Morse struggled to gain recognition in his country. So, what did he do next? Well, he turned to science and technology, particularly electromagnetics, which he had studied in Yale University. His knowledge of electromagnetic waves led to the invention of the telegraph and Morse code, a method of communication with spaced dots and dashes still used in the fields of aviation and aeronautics. Morse’s life demonstrates the complementary nature of art and science and how each can benefit from the other.  

Leonardo da Vinci 
Leonardo da Vinci, born in 1452 in Italy, doesn’t need any introduction as an artist. However, his scientific accomplishments aren’t talked about much. He was not only an artist, but also a scientist, an inventor and an engineer. Talk of a master of all trades! Leonardo da Vinci was known for his exceptional imagination and ability to visualize things that were not yet in existence. Back in his time, he drew sketches of present-day technologies, including the first aeroplane and automatic weapons. He was also an expert in anatomy and dissected human and animal bodies to study their structures, which is evident in his sketches of the human body. His fascination with human anatomy and science is what led to his artistic masterpieces, such as the Mona Lisa (1503–19) and The Last Supper (1495–98) among others. He is a true example of someone who tremendously contributed to both art and science.  

John James Audubon 
John James Audubon is an American ornithologist (expert of birds), born in 1785 in West Indies. He is another example of an artist who merged science and art in his work. How? Apart from being a well-known ornithologist who researched bird behaviour and migratory patterns, he was also a well-known sketch artist. On his global expedition to study birds, he drew detailed illustrations of birds in their natural habitat. And these were not just illustrations. These were scientifically accurate descriptions! Thus, Audubon contributed to the study of birds, a field of science, with the help of his artistry.  

Eventually, he compiled all his pictures and published his paintings in a book called Birds of America (1827–38). The book was, of course, a huge success. Recently, in 2010, a copy of his book was sold for 11.5 million dollars by Sotheby, a fine arts company in America. Right now, only 119 copies of the book exist in the world, which makes it priceless!