The Wangensteen Historical Library has a wonderful exhibit on Andreas Vesalius and includes his groundbreaking human anatomy book “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” from 1555 (the second printing, as the first printing was in 1543) and a new 2014 translation. Its a fun exhibit as they mix old text, modern translations, and modern technology to tell their story. “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” aka The Vesalius (as we call it in the library) is a fascinating book and the drawings are just amazing and not only amazing for 1555, but amazing for 2014 as well. Its a huge book and one that I was able to touch a few years ago (yes, I got to touch a almost 500 year old book! Libraries rock!).
Here is the blurb from the Wangensteen’s website:
“Visualizing the Body: Celebrating 500 Years of Andreas Vesalius, Renaissance Art and Medical Revolution
When: August 4, 2014 – May 8, 2015
Where: Wangensteen Historical Library, 5th floor of Diehl Hall
Free and open to the public.
About the exhibit
Andreas Vesalius’ pivotal work on human anatomy, “De Humani Corporis Fabrica,” sits at the intersection of art and science. Vesalius, acknowledged as the father of modern anatomy, based his work on observations from his dissections, and this, along with detailed Renaissance images, revolutionized the study of anatomy.
This exhibit commemorates the 500th anniversary of Vesalius (1514-1564), and draws upon the Wangensteen Historical Library’s strong holdings in the history of anatomy. It explores Vesalius’ achievements, other benchmarks of anatomical illustration, and themes such as acquiring bodies, anatomy theaters, and 3-dimensional anatomical models” (https://hsl.lib.umn.edu/news/2014/sep23/andreas-vesalius-anatomy-exhibit-now-open).
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- The Vesalius!
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- Will
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- Brains….brains….