John Flaxman Anatomical Studies for the Use of Artists

 

Anatomy of the skeleton front view, side view, back view, bones of the torso and hips.

Muscles of the arm and shoulder, side view, front view'

JOHN FLAXMAN

John Flaxman, sculptor, was born at York in 1755 and died at London in 1826. He left a number of anatomic studies treating of the skeleton, the muscles of the trunk, and the extremities.

Another anatomical illustration by John Flaxman at the University of Cambridge, Wellcome Trust.

From Fritz Schider's An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists "The anatomical studies left by Flaxman were not intended as atextbook for artist, nor were they published during his lifetime. Nineteen plates, together with two by Robertson, were published in London in 1833 under the title Anatomical Studies of the Bones and Muscles for the Use of Artists from the drawings of the late John Flaxman engraved by Henry Landseer; with two additional plates and explanatory notes by Henry Robertson. 

Description of the book

Bemerkenswerter und seltener anatomischer Atlas, der zwar nicht zu den 'medizinischen' Anatomiebüchern zuzählen ist, jedoch ein reizvolles Beispiel für das Hineinwirken der Wissenschaft in die Bildende Kunst darstellt. Choulant widmet dem Werk daher auch eine längere Besprechung. Er bezeichnet Flaxmans Zeichnungen als "durchaus frei, geistreich und naturgetreu". - Die Radierungen Landseers sind auf subtilste Weise ausgeführt. Die myologischen Tafeln erinnern an feine Kreidezeichnungen, die osteologischen an Pinselzeichnungen, Offenbar nur in kleiner Auflage erschienen. - Leichte Gebrauchsspuren.

Remarkable and rare anatomical atlas, which, although not to the 'is count among medical' anatomy books, but a delightful example represents the encroachment of science into the visual arts. Choulant devoted to the work, therefore, a longer meeting. He describes Flaxman Drawings as "absolutely free, witty and true to nature".  The Etchings Landseer's are running on most subtle ways. The in his chalk drawings are of the muscles the brush drawings are of the bones, obviously appeared only in small editions.

A digital version is available at the New York Public Library.

Original copies of John Flaxman's Anatomical Studies for the use of Artists at Abebooks.com.

 

John Flaxman - 1755-1826

An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists

Link to related anatomies at the University of Toronto: Anatomia 1522-1867: Anatomical Plates from the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.

Related books:

Anatomy for the Artist (How to Draw)

Anatomy For The Artist The Dynamics Of The Human Form

The Language of Line: John Flaxman’s illustrations to the works of Homer and Aeschylus at the Royal Academy of the Arts.

Another page about Flaxman at absoluteastronomy.com.

Gerard de Lairesse, Govard Bidloo and William Cowper - Anatomies

  

In 1865 Govard Bidloo published his Anatomia Humani Corporis with illustrations by Gerard de Lairesse and engravings by Abraham Blooteling. The Dutch edition Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams  was published in 1890. Despite the achieve ment of making anatomical illustrations of the quality of fine art, sales weren't so great so he sold the images to William Cowper who then wrote an English text and added nine new plates drawn by Henry Cook and engraved by Michiel van der Gucht.

  

The new plates included front and back views of the entire musculature. Cowper's book included and engraved title The Anatomy of Humane Bodies which was actually pasted right over Bidloo's title. You can see an example here at the  University of Iowa Hardin Library which has copies of both books.

Bidloo wasn't happy about this and there were many angry exchanges and pamphlets published in defense of both men. there is more on the controversy at the University of Windsor Leddy Library.
There is an another history at MinnesotaMedicine.com: The Art of Anatomy - By Elaine Challacombe.

Plates from both books are at the National Institute of Health's web page: William Cowper, Govard Bidloo. Links to more engravings from Gerard de Lairesse are at the Wellcome Library's collection.

  

The Quick and the Dead: Artists and Anatomy

A print is for sale on Ebay Click here to see them for sale on Ebay.

Signed: H. Cook Delin. / M. Vander Gucht sculp.

Notes from the seller:

The anatomy of humane bodies, with figures drawn after the life by some of the best masters in Europe, and curiously engraven in one hundred and fourteen copper plates, illustrated with large explications, containing many new anatomical discoveries, and chirurgical observations, to which is added an introduction explaining the animal oeconomy, with a copious index." Publication: Oxford : Printed at the Theater, for Sam. Smith and Benj. Walford ... London, 1698. The final 9 plates in the Appendix were drawn by Henry Cook and engraved by Michiel van der Gucht. Author: Cowper, William, 1666-1709. Author: Bidloo, Govard, 1649-1713. Artists: Lairesse, Gérard de, 1640-1711 (first 105 plates); and Cook, Henry, 1642-1700 (final 9 plates) Engravers: Blooteling, Abraham, 1640-1690 (first 105 plates); and Gucht, Michiel van der, 1660-1725 (final 9 plates)