James Gurney
Outside the Hatchery (Warming the Eggs)  1992

In Dinotopia, most dinosaurs are born in the Hatchery, where females travel to lay their eggs in indoor nests. Ironically, the artist has placed Oviraptors in charge of the Hatchery.  When Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time was published, Oviraptors were thought to be egg stealers because their bones were found with eggs believed to be from another kind of dinosaur.  Two years later, scientists changed their views of these creatures after finding evidence that Oviraptors were simply guarding the eggs of their own young. Though they never deserved their reputation, they are stuck with a name that means "egg thief."  Their powerful toothless beaks may have been used for crushing shellfish.

In this image, an Oviraptor gently cradles a dinosaur egg that must be kept warm while in transit.  To portray the appearance and the mannerisms of dinosaurs convincingly, James Gurney carefully observes the behavior of living creatures--from human to his own pet parakeet.

Illustration for Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time
Oil on board

Link to image of plaque at Norman Rockwell Museum