The harmony of the brain
Alastair Compston
Although something of a parlour game, the question can reasonably be asked: ‘which, in history, is most important medical book ever written?’ High on list answers, probably outright winner, De humani corporis fabrica libri septem famous for woodcuts portraying accurate anatomical structures, many historiated initials and frontispiece, written by Andreas Vesalius (1514–64) published 1543. The bodies dissected Padua specimens portrayed Fabrica include mistress monk, exhumed students, oarsman papal trireme. wrote only 2 years. identity artist responsible images engraved printed 73 plates has been much debated: likely candidate Jan van Calcar (1499–1545); possibly his teacher Tiziano Vecelli (Titian: 1485–1576); probably, Domenico Campagnola (1500–64); perhaps, himself; and, beyond reasonable doubt, all four. Many flayed subjects are depicted their soothing landscapes. When aligned side-by-side, back-drop to 14 muscle one continuous panorama Euganean Hills few miles south west Padua.

We know work through several publications: example, A bio-bibliography , Harvey Cushing (1869–1939), 1943; prelude modern science being discussion sources circumstances Tabulae Anatomicae sex Charles Singer (1876–1960) C. Rabin ( nk ), 1946; illustrations from works Brussels J.B. deC M Saunders (1903–91) C.D. O’Malley (1907–70), 1950; four centuries later (Logan Glendening lectures history philosophy medicine), John Farquar Fulton (1899–1960), 1514–1564 O’Malley, 1965.

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Vesalius was known Johannes Oporinus (1507–68), printer …

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Brain