Woodcuts for the ‘De Dissectione Partium Cororis Humani Libri Tres’

Title
Woodcuts for the ‘De Dissectione Partium Cororis Humani Libri Tres’

Original Creator
Charles Estienne (1504-circa 1564, France, Anatomist); Jean “Mercure” Jollat (1490-circa 1550, France, Artist)

Original Creation Date
1545

Description
Estienne may had been the first to publish illustrations of the whole external venous and nervous system, descriptions of the morphology and purpose of “feeding holes” of bones, and composition of the sternum. This woodcut demonstrates the discoveries made to the skeletal and muscular structures. Yet Galenic tradition of medicine, anatomy, and surgery greatly influenced Charles Estienne’s work, and his hesitation to challenge such traditions allowed for other anatomists, particularly Andreas Versalius, to pioneer
new frontiers in the study of human anatomy. The value of Estienne’s contribution stands without
contest regarding his revolutionary discoveries.

Rights
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This image is in the public domain.