Visualizing the Body: Celebrating 500 Years of Andreas Vesalius, Renaissance Art and Medical Revolution

Skeleton sitting at a desk blended with a circulatory cross section of a hand.

About the exhibit

Exhibit dates: August 4, 2014 – May 8, 2015

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.

Related news and events

Online exhibit: Interactive timeline of the life of Andreas Vesalius

This Interactive timeline of the life of Andreas Vesalius takes its audience on tour of the history of anatomy — from Hippocrates' theory of the four humors in 460 B.C. to Vesalius' birth in 1514 to his lasting impact on modern anatomy with the publication of Gray's Anatomy in 1858.