Tables of the Skeleton and Muscles of the Human Body. Translated from Latin

1746

Hist. Coll. WE17 A337

London: Woodfall

‘This scientific art work is the result of a 20 year collaboration. Scientist Bernhard Seigfried Albinus (1697-1770) and artist Jan Wandelaar (1690-1759) were determined to explain the human body in more detail. Albinus’s quest was to obtain data by measuring multiple bodies, and to construct a composite. Wandelaar used a new drawing technique to help achieve this. Each dissected cadaver was viewed through a grid of squares: first from a distance of 12.6 m (41.2 ft) so that parallel projection could be used without perspective distorting; and then from a distance of 1.3 m (4.1 ft). The gridded drawings were lined up with each other; sight marks were connected, and to obtain full accuracy, compasses and rulers were used to measure.’ Item chosen by Louisa Baillie, University of Otago