I FS

1. • Galen (130AD - 210 AD) is described as the
‘Father of anatomy’. His fascination with anatomy
and dissection stemmed from religious and
philosophical questions such as ‘where the soul was
housed’.
• However, in 2nd Century human dissection was
forbidden by the Roman Empire and taboo so
Galen’s discoveries were taken from dissecting
barbary apes as they had the most similar anatomy
to humans.
• Galen believed that knowing more about the body
gave us a better understanding of the purpose of
life. (Science Museum, 2019)
• In the 1500s during the European Renaissance
Andres Versalius (1514-1564) found
inaccuracies in Galen’s dissections due to his
reliance on animal anatomy over human
• He illustrated and published a seven-volume
book called De humani corporis fabrica (On the
Fabric of the Human Body) in 1543, ensuring he
continued Galen’s tradition and did not replace
him despite correcting Galen’s discoveries
• Versalius drew his anatomy illustrations in the
same style at Ancient Greek sculptures, as
though the bodies were standing with detailed
scenic background (Science Museum, 2019)
• The ‘anti-aesthetic movement’, in the mid
1800s, initiated the shift from
commercialisation to scientific educational
purposes of anatomical drawings
• In 1858 Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter
published the first edition of “Gray’s anatomy”,
which contained all hand drawn anatomically
correct illustrations
• Since the mid 1800s there have been 40
editions of Gray’s and Carter’s educational
book. Most recent editions still contained
original illustrations accompanied by detailed
text. (Sams, S., 2015)