ST. PETERSBURG, FL.- Survival of the Fittest: Envisioning Wildlife and Wilderness with the Big Four, Masterworks from the Rijksmuseum Twenthe and the National Museum of Wildlife Art opened at The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in downtown St. Petersburg, on February 17. The exhibition will be on view through May 26. The exhibition title references Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, which had a revolutionary impact on how Western cultures envisioned their relationship with the other animals on Earth. In the post-Darwin era, a group of classically trained painters—now known as the Big Four—emerged and helped establish a vision of wildlife and nature that remains with us today. German Richard Friese (1854–1918) is the Big Four’s elder, followed chronologically by Swede Bruno Liljefors (1860–1939), German Wilhelm Kuhnert (1865–1926), and German-American Carl Rungius (1869–1959).

“These four artists came at a point in Western history where they were able to travel into the field and study wildlife in its natural environment. Back in the studio, they transformed those experiences into works of art that rang true to nature,” says exhibit curator Adam Duncan Harris, Ph.D. “Earlier artists didn’t have that opportunity or the cultural impact of Darwin’s scientific work.”

Survival of the Fittest is the first major piece of scholarship to come out of the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s multiyear Carl Rungius Catalogue Raisonné project. Presented with an accompanying exhibition catalogue, Survival of the Fittest will feature 45 masterworks. While other institutions hold significant collections of work by individual members of the Big Four, the Rijksmuseum Twenthe in Enschede, Netherlands, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are the only two museums in the world to hold masterpieces by each member of the group. Survival of the Fittest brings together the best paintings from these two esteemed institutions for the first time.

“It is a stunning exhibition that will visually impress visitors as it explores a range of topical subjects,” says Harris, who is also the Grainger/Kerr Director of the Carl Rungius Catalogue Raisonné.

“Survival of the Fittest contextualizes the work of the Big Four internationally within the frames of colonialism, Darwinism, art history, land and wildlife conservation, and Indigenous peoples’ ways of seeing nature,” Harris says. “It addresses current conversations about large-scale land conservation, hunting, endangered species, wildlife-migration corridors, rewilding efforts, Indigenous visions of nature and how alternate ways of understanding can provide valuable insight when thinking about humanity’s always-changing relationship with the wild.”

Survival of the Fittest premiered at the National Museum of Wildlife Art and is touring to five additional venues across the United States, including The James Museum.

“It’s exciting for us to have so many works by European masters exhibited at The James for the first time,” said Emily Kapes, Curator of Art at The James Museum. “Highlighting the best wildlife art is a core part of what The James Museum offers our guests. Survival of the Fittest is the perfect introduction to the Big Four artists who revolutionized art depicting nature and wildlife.”

Key Components of Survival of the Fittest:

Classic Wildlife Art: Explore the emergence of the Big Four and their enduring impact on wildlife depictions and artistic vision.

Nature's Awe Unveiled: This stunning exhibition captivates with the awe-inspiring beauty of nature and invites the viewer to transport themselves to the natural habitats of our world's most majestic creatures.

Masterworks Inspiring Conservation: With 45 compelling masterworks, this exhibition comments on current conversations on land and wildlife conservation, offering profound insights into humanity's evolving relationship with the wild.

Community Engagement Programs: Engage with The James Museum's diverse programs, including member exclusives, curator talks, film screenings and family events, fostering community interaction with the exhibition.