Painting Dinosaurs, early 20th century

Charles R. Knight’s illustrations shaped the public’s view of prehistoric life.

Written byDiana Kwon

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ABOVE: FACE OFF: Charles R. Knight completed this mural of a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops in 1927. The painting later inspired an epic battle sequence between the two beasts in the 1966 adventure film One Million Years B.C. (See video below.)
© THE FIELD MUSEUM, PHOTOGRAPHER RON TESTA

American artist Charles R. Knight produced some of the most iconic paintings of prehistoric life to date. Several major natural history museums in the US have featured Knight’s murals: detailed, colorful, and dynamic portrayals of dinosaurs and other ancient flora and fauna. Knight’s work also seeped into popular culture, influencing depictions of dinosaurs into the present day.

“He really had a huge impact on how the public perceived paleontology,” says Peter Makovicky, a curator at the Field Museum in Chicago, “because most people are interested in some sort of educated estimate of what these things would have looked like in life—bones are ...

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Meet the Author

Diana Kwon
Diana is a freelance science journalist who covers the life sciences, health, and academic life. She’s a regular contributor to The Scientist and her work has appeared in several other publications, including Scientific American, Knowable, and Quanta. Diana was a former intern at The Scientist and she holds a master’s degree in neuroscience from McGill University. She’s currently based in Berlin, Germany.
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