Anatomy Models - Eighteenth Century

In the eighteenth century, public displays of highly realistic wax anatomical models were intended to help reinforce and reify new medical and philosophical ideas about how the body and the mind function.

Rene Descartes and the frontice piece of his Meditations On First Philosophy

Joseph Wright's "Experiment With a Bird in an Air Pump" late 18c
(National Gallery, London)

"The whole point of natural philosophy was to look at nature and the world as created by God, and thus capable of being understood as embodying God's powers and purposes."
(Cunningham & Williams, 1993)

a notion of abstract femininity

route to knowledge found by looking deep into the body

material of reproductive processes as associated with women

Wax model depicting the birthing process
(Specola Collection, University of Florence)

The "Medical Venus" (Specola Collection, University of Florence)

Many consider the "Medical Venus" the centre-piece of the collection (Specola Collection, University of Florence)

The "Medical Venus" discomposed showing fetus in uterus - note the fetus is fully formed and not embryonic (Specola Collection, University of Florence)

The "Medical Venus" discomposed and showing a fetus in the uterus - note the fetus is fully formed and not embryonic
(Specola Collection, University of Florence)

Female wax figure showing dissection of viscera
(Specola Collection, University of Florence)

Display of wax figures (Specola Collection, University of Florence)
Obstetrical room at the Specola Museum
(Specola Collection, University of Florence)

Severely truncated male figure
(Specola Collection, University of Florence)

"Nearly everyone walking into the first room of models recoils at the hyper-realism....a sense of edging towards the abyss and the horrific is heightened."
(Burfoot, 2002)

In 1997, a doctor told his students that the work done in the Dissection Room was about "doing things that may frighten you so the next time you have to do something frightening, you won't be frightened."
(Sinclair, 1997)

	18th Century New philosophical ideas Decline of humoralism Natural philosophy and popular science La Specola Collection Ludmilla Jordanova's Sexual Visions Public display and reinforcing dualistic/mechanistic philosophy Why so realistic?	In the eighteenth century, public displays of highly realistic wax anatomical models were intended to help reinforce and reify new medical and philosophical ideas about how the body and the mind function.
Rene Descartes and the frontice piece of his Meditations On First Philosophy	New philosophical ideas As is well known, the eighteenth century saw great change in European intellectual thought, a movement often referred to as the Enlightenment. A new model of natural knowledge emerged that was dualistic and mechanistic. The separation of mind and body was considered by philosophers like Rene Descartes and John Locke, and their ideas, along with those of others, made possible the expansion of science over the next two centuries. (Munck, 2000)
Decline of humoralism Practiced according to the wisdom of the ancient Greek physician Galen, humoral medicine equated the body and the cosmic realm. Several factors contributed to its gradual decline: Renaissance anatomy studies began to reveal that the structures of the body were not exactly as Galen had described William Harvey's 1616 discovery of the circulation of the blood seemed to disprove humoral theory Cartesian dualism refuted the connection of body and cosmos Harvey's view that the heart was not the mystical centre of the body, but simply a well-designed pump, found favour with Descartes who promoted a mechanical view of the body. (Porter, 1997)		Joseph Wright's "Experiment With a Bird in an Air Pump" late 18c (National Gallery, London)
"The whole point of natural philosophy was to look at nature and the world as created by God, and thus capable of being understood as embodying God's powers and purposes." (Cunningham & Williams, 1993)	Natural philosophy and popular science What we think of as SCIENCE was not as yet a separate discipline with practitioners of its own - nor was it disparate from the study of philosophy. The understanding of 'natural philosophy' was the quest of the eighteenth century. (Thackray, 1974) Science gradually became visible and accessible to the broader public: expanding publications market that included books on popular science public lectures and demonstrations creation of scientific societies The pursuit of scientific understanding and amusement included visits to newly opened anatomical exhibitions. (Lemire, 1992)
Jordanova argues that the wax figures of the Specola reinforce three distinct eighteenth-century principles about the body: a notion of abstract femininity route to knowledge found by looking deep into the body material of reproductive processes as associated with women (Jordanova, 1989)	La Specola Collection The Specola Collection in Florence was the first great collection of anatomical wax models. It was formed in 1775, and its purpose was to demonstrate all knowledge of the human body. The models and figures in the collection are varied. A life-size female figure called the "Medical Venus" opens to reveal the structures of the body. There are life-size upright figures showing different biological systems or muscle masses. Some sculptures are views only available at the dissection table like a cross-section of an organ or limb. (Bambi, 1999)	Wax model depicting the birthing process (Specola Collection, University of Florence)
Many consider the "Medical Venus" the centre-piece of the collection (Specola Collection, University of Florence)
"There are, of course, powerful polarities at work here, the mark of centuries of dichotomous thought." active/passive muscles/nerves action/experience subject/object self/other seeing/seen reason/passion (Jordanova, 1989)	Ludmilla Jordanova's Sexual Visions The Specola models have obvious implications for gender studies. Jordanova explores the relationships between body image and sex roles in the eighteenth century as well as assumptions about gender that are imbedded in the models. Jordanova points out that none of the male figures in the collection show the entire body covered in flesh or in a recumbent position - they are either severely truncated or "monsterous." (Jordanova, 1989)	"Monsterous" male wax figure (Specola Collection, University of Florence) The "Medical Venus" female wax figure (Specola Collection, Unversity of Florence)
The "Medical Venus" discomposed and showing a fetus in the uterus - note the fetus is fully formed and not embryonic (Specola Collection, University of Florence)	Public display and reinforcing dualistic/mechanistic philosophy The Specola was open to all classes of people from its inception in 1775 (Burfoot, 2002). Why would this be if its purpose was solely for the instruction of anatomy? the collection resided in an annex of the royal palace of Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Tuscany Peter Leopold believed in the new dualistic and mechanistic philosophies of the Enlightenment he changed policy to reflect his beliefs - social welfare programs were introduced and ties to the papacy were cut (Outram, 1995) the wax models reinforced to the public new Cartesian beliefs, and helped to eradicate superstitious ideas like Original Sin Empiricists and philosophers argued that the supremacy of God was demonstrated in the perfection of the mechanics of the human body, and this allowed for the acceptance of dual reasoning. New discoveries were seen by many to bolster religion, not dispel it. (Porter, 1997) Model makers strove for perfection in wax to mimic God's handiwork.
Female wax figure showing dissection of viscera (Specola Collection, University of Florence)	Obstetrical room at the Specola Museum (Specola Collection, University of Florence)	Severely truncated male figure (Specola Collection, University of Florence)
"Nearly everyone walking into the first room of models recoils at the hyper-realism....a sense of edging towards the abyss and the horrific is heightened." (Burfoot, 2002)	Why so realistic? I would argue that emotional response is an effect intentionally solicited by the model maker for educational purposes. Remarkable similarities are found between accounts of seeing the Specola models for the first time (Burfoot, 2002), and the way in which modern medical students describe their initial encounter with a cadaver in the dissection room. (Sinclair, 1997)	In 1997, a doctor told his students that the work done in the Dissection Room was about "doing things that may frighten you so the next time you have to do something frightening, you won't be frightened." (Sinclair, 1997)