De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem by Andreas Vesalius

Vesalius, considered the father of modern anatomy, revolutionized the teaching of human anatomy.  In this work Vesalius rejected the teachings of Galen and stressed the importance of direct, exact observation.  Vesalius’ writings were based on human dissection, although at the time it was difficult to find bodies to dissect.  The Fabrica was published after five years of this work, when Vesalius was 29, but was rejected by many contemporary anatomists.  Besides being the most famous anatomical work ever published, this book is also one of the most beautiful.  The artist Jan Stephan van Calcar, a student of Titian, executed the woodcuts under the supervision of Vesalius.  The background scenes of the “muscle men” illustrations together form a dioramic replica of the Paduan countryside of the time.

Gift of Lewis Stephen Pilcher
Special Collections Library