These images of the Arctic and Antarctic were painted during the heroic era of polar exploration (late 1800s 鈥� early 1900s).
Driven by the promise of adventure, fame and spiritual fulfillment, the artists behind them risked their lives to witness scientific missions, personal journeys and officially-sanctioned exploration.
The paintings serve as a requiem for a bygone view of the polar regions as the indomitable 鈥渆nds of the earth鈥�. We now think of the poles very differently 鈥� as fragile places vulnerable to man鈥檚 activities.
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These paintings and many more are on show in an exhibition called at the , Salem, Massachusetts, US until March 1, 2009. It is the first time so many outstanding Western paintings of the polar regions have been brought together in one place.
