De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem

1555

Monro M306

Basel: Johannes Oporinus

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.