. Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time. une, 1543. 2 They are now known to have been drawn by Jan van Calcar. DUTCH DISSECTING ROOMS 97 One among them, the frontispiece, has a special interest for us. It isa Lesson in Anatomy, with certain of the details studied from life, butforming in the main a composition somewhat in the manner of theSchool of Athens. The action takes place in a sort of rotunda withcolumns; a concourse of persons in various attitudes crowds the arenaand the circular seats. Vesalius stands in the centre at a dissecting-table, on which a corpse faces the spectator, t
. Rembrandt : his life, his work, and his time. une, 1543. 2 They are now known to have been drawn by Jan van Calcar. DUTCH DISSECTING ROOMS 97 One among them, the frontispiece, has a special interest for us. It isa Lesson in Anatomy, with certain of the details studied from life, butforming in the main a composition somewhat in the manner of theSchool of Athens. The action takes place in a sort of rotunda withcolumns; a concourse of persons in various attitudes crowds the arenaand the circular seats. Vesalius stands in the centre at a dissecting-table, on which a corpse faces the spectator, the stomach already-opened. By the professors side is a taper, with an inkbottle, asponge, and various surgical instruments. In his right hand he holdsa scalpel, which he rests on the edge of the wound; the left he holdsup, pointing with his forefinger to emphasise his exposition. A hugeskeleton rises behind him; grouped around are assistants, somesharpening their knives,and scholars, some ab- VFRA <V^ LUCrmNO-BATAVt CUM SCtLETIS ET Rl. THE THEATRE OF ANATOMY AT LEVDEN. Facsimile of Swanenburchs engraving (i6io). sorbed in the lesson,others discussing it. Tothe left, one of the pupilsholds a monkey in aleash, and another a dog,the victims no doubt ofan approaching experi-ment. The whole sceneis full of life and move-ment. In the tail-piecesand initials the decora-tive motives are of asimilar character: chil-dren dissecting animals,or fragments of thehuman body; others set-ting a skull to boil, orperforming surgical oper-ations. All such details testify to the passionate interest excitedby research of this kind, which in Italy no less than in Hollandhad met with much opposition before its formal acceptance inthe domain of science. In his preface, Vesalius speaks of thesupport given to the cause by Charles V. and expresses a hopethat Philip II. will continue the favour shown it by his father, andwill not allow himself to be prejudiced by the intrigues of antiquateddetract
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1903
