Nouvelle Description Anatomique

Showing the male human body complete with the muscles and skin, this anatomical drawing was one of sixteen plates of 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques' or 'New Anatomical Tables'. Each plate was drawn by Amé Bourdon (1683-1706), a French physician and anatomist, and engraved by Daniel Le Bossu. On the left hand side is a manuscript key to identify each part of the body. The work was published in 1679. The close relationship between art and anatomy began in the Renaissance, when artists and anatomists worked closely together to produce detailed anatomical drawings for medical textbooks, and established artistic and aesthetic conventions.

Different parts of the adult and child human skeleton are shown in this anatomical drawing. Measuring over one metre tall, this is one of sixteen plates of 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques' or 'New Anatomical Tables'. Each plate showing the layers of muscle, bone and blood vessels in the human body was drawn by Amé Bourdon (1683-1706), a French physician and anatomist, and engraved by Daniel Le Bossu. On the left hand side is a manuscript key to identify each part of the body. The work was published in 1679 and was probably used by medical students to learn anatomy, especially at a time when few bodies were available for dissection.

The blood vessel system in the human body is shown here in this anatomical drawing. Measuring over one metre tall, this is one of sixteen plates of 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques' or 'New Anatomical Tables'. Each plate showing the layers of muscle, bone and blood vessels in the human body was drawn by Amé Bourdon (1683-1706), a French physician and anatomist, and engraved by Daniel Le Bossu. On the left hand side is a manuscript key to identify each part of the body. The work was published in 1679 and was probably used by medical students to learn anatomy, especially at a time when few bodies were available for dissection.

The blood vessel system and the structure of the brain in the human body is shown next to a cut-away of a female body. Measuring over one metre tall, this is one of sixteen plates of 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques' or 'New Anatomical Tables'. Each plate showing the layers of muscle, bone and blood vessels in the human body was drawn by Amé Bourdon (1683-1706), a French physician and anatomist, and engraved by Daniel Le Bossu. On the left hand side is a manuscript key to identify each part of the body. The work was published in 1679 and was probably used by medical students to learn anatomy, especially at a time when few bodies were available for dissection.