De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem

Date

1555

Identifier

Monro M306

Type

Publisher

Basel: Johannes Oporinus

Abstract

The historiated initials throughout this work show putti (cherubs) and other mythical creatures carrying out the background activities required for dissections, such as acquiring cadavers and preparing skeletons. In this ‘Q’ initial, the putti are dissecting the neck of a pig. This is possibly in reference to a famous demonstration by Galen (129-210) who cut the laryngeal nerve (which controls the vocal cords) of a pig, thereby causing it to no longer squeal. The Fabrica was much concerned with correcting Galen’s anatomical errors.

Files

DONE foamboard A4 size Q-0001.jpg

Tags

Citation

Andreas Vesalius, “De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem,” ourheritage.ac.nz | OUR Heritage, accessed March 19, 2024, https://otago.ourheritage.ac.nz/items/show/11061.