Vesalius and the Anatomy Illustration
Anatomical Images and Historical Illustrations, Wellcome Library
Oct 21, 2009
Among the 100,000 prints, drawings, historical illustrations and photos related to the history of medicine and dating from the 14th century to the present, the Wellcome Library holds an important collection of anatomical illustrations. A search using the anatomy keyword in Wellcome Images, Health & Illness section, yields over 3,000 results. These anatomy illustrations are available to print and download.
Anatomy Illustration and Vesalius
In their paper in Clinical Anatomy Calkins, Franciosi and Kolesari set out the three elements that were essential to the development of the anatomy illustration: the recognition of anatomy as a branch of medical science; the acceptance of human dissection to advance the understanding of human anatomy and the advancement of printing.
In 1543 the physician and anatomist Andreas Vesalius published the first comprehensive illustrated anatomy treatise and the most influential and groundbreaking book of human anatomy, De Humani Corporis Fabrica. The anatomical illustrations incorporated some of the techniques of the most important artist-anatomist, Leonardo da Vinci and introduced conventions that remained in force throughout the 19th century.
In anatomical illustrations, Kornell points out, it became customary to draw not just a stationary anatomical figure but the living cadaver or the animated skeleton. Among the most influential anatomical images were Andreas Vesalius' historical illustrations of skeletons and muscle figures. In De Humani Corporis Fabrica anatomical figures stride in the landscape, strike poses and express emotions.
The Anatomist Vesalius and his Anatomical Images
The Wellcome Images website yields 315 anatomical images under the Vesalius keyword search. These are mainly anatomy illustrations from the famous publications of the anatomist, held in the Rare Books section. They include:
- De Humani Corporis Fabrica, 1543: This revolutionary book of the Flemish-born anatomist, Andreas Vesalius, overthrew the traditions of the ancient Greek physician, Galen, and established dissection as essential to the study of human anatomy.
- Suorum de Humani Corporis Fabrica Librorum Epitome, 1543: This book accompanied the publication of De Humani Corporis and was meant for students. It has got limited text and larger anatomy illustrations.
- Opera omnia anatomica & chirurgica, 1725
- Tabulae anatomicae sex, 1538: a set of six large tables drawn by the anatomist and Jan Stefan van Calcar depicting the skeleton and the portal, caval and arterial systems.
The astounding anatomy illustrations are drawn by the anatomist himself or are attributed to Titian's pupil, Jan Stefan van Calcar. The anatomical images are based on Vesalius' five-year dissection experience and his medical observations. In the anatomy illustrations, the human figures depicted are placed in Paduan landscapes, striking classical poses and holding objects (an apple, a spade, a skull).
As Kornell writes, Vesalius gave his anatomical figures a "sense of inner life" that served to "humanize the skeletons and downplay the aspect of horror and wonder an animate skeleton naturally evokes". The Wellcome Images related to Vesalius the anatomist and the anatomy illustration are available to download and reproduce. Visit the Wellcome Library for more information.
Related Articles on Historical Medical Images
- Historical Medical Images of Surgery at Wellcome: Illustrations of Surgical Operations, 16th-19thC; see link above.
- Online Historical Medical Images at Duke: Engravings and Illustrations of Famous Doctors and Anatomists
Sources
Monique Kornell, "The eternal cadaver. Anatomy and its representation", in Margaret Mitchell, Remember me: Constructing immortality: Beliefs on immortality, life and death, Routledge 2007.
C.M. Calkins, J.P. Franciosi, G.L. Kolesari, "Human anatomical science and illustration: the origin of two inseparable disciplines", Clinical Anatomy, 1999; 12(2), pp. 120-9.
Short biography of Andreas Vesalius on the BBC website and in the Reynold's Historical Library online.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
