The Body

Vesalius, Andrea (1514–1564)
Leaf from Book 2 of On the fabric of the human body
Basel: Printed by Johannes Oporinus, 1555.

This leaf comes from the 1555 edition of Andreas Vesalius’s De humani corporis fabrica, a seminal work on human anatomy and medicine. This leaf displays a view of the posterior muscular system. Under close direction from Vesalius, the workshop of Titian produced over 600 woodcut illustrations for this work.

Having studied at universities across Europe, Vesalius set out to conduct a thorough study of human anatomy through a series of comprehensive experiments and dissections. Through these dissections, Vesalius made discoveries about anatomy that conflicted with contemporary medical knowledge and Galen’s theory of the four biles. Using detailed illustrations was essential, not only to justify Vesalius’s refutation of longstanding medical practices, but also to ensure that students and other physicians would be able to use this work as a visual guide when conducting their own experiments.