Anatomical Chart From "Cyclopaedia," 1728, Volume 1

I just discovered this wonderful anatomical chart (see above) from volume one of Ephraim Chambers' Cyclopaedia, published in 1728. A beautiful, hi-res version of the image is available in the Wikipedia commons; I highly encourage you to visit the original (here) which is well worth a long, involved perusing, but is, sadly, too large to include here. To encourage you to visit the original, I have selected out some of my favorite details above. You can also check out the entire digitized book here, on the University of Wisconsin Digital collections website.

About the Cyclopedia project, an early attempt to catalog all earthly knowledge, from Wikipedia:

Cyclopaedia: or, A Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols.) was an encyclopedia published by Ephraim Chambers in London in 1728, and reprinted in numerous editions in the 18th century. The Cyclopaedia was one of the first general encyclopedias to be produced in English. The 1728 subtitle gives a summary of the aims of the author: Cyclopaedia, or, A universal dictionary of arts and sciences: containing the definitions of the terms, and accounts of the things signify'd thereby, in the several arts, both liberal and mechanical, and the several sciences, human and divine: the figures, kinds, properties, productions, preparations, and uses, of things natural and artificial; the rise, progress, and state of things ecclesiastical, civil, military, and commercial: with the several systems, sects, opinions, &c; among philosophers, divines, mathematicians, physicians, antiquaries, criticks, &c: The whole intended as a course of ancient and modern learning.

Via the Chris Chubbuck Photo blog.

Cross-Section of the Human Head Anatomical Plate, 1920s

Really lovely anatomical head from the 1920s, found here.

"Anatomy: The Foundation of Medicine; From Aristotle to Early Twentieth Century Wall Charts," Online Exhibition

The afore mentioned anonymous "Friend of Morbid Anatomy" has directed my attention to a new online exhibition housed on the University of Virginia Health System website called "Anatomy: The Foundation of Medicine; From Aristotle to Early Twentieth Century Wall Charts." It features an excellent selection of images and a short essay on the history of anatomical illustration. See the exhibition (and its snappy opening page) here.

All images above are taken from the exhibition, and are examples of "W. & A. K. Johnston's Charts of Anatomy and Physiology," By Dr. Wm. Turner, Professor of Anatomy, University of Edinburgh (Now Sir William Turner, Prinicipal of the University of Edinburgh), and were originally published in the 19th Century.

Yet MORE on Japanese Anatomical Charts!

Yes, yet MORE on the Japanese Anatomical Charts discussed in two recent posts (here and here). Now we have a translation! The folks at Pink Tentacle have written a full story on these charts, complete with names, dates, and history. They have even thrown in some newly reassembled images (see above).

We discover that these are called the Kaibo Zonshinzu Anatomy Scrolls (1819) and were painted by Kyoto-area physician Yasukazu Minagaki (1784-1825) under the tutelage of Dutch anatomist Philip von Siebold, the first European to teach Western medicine in Japan. We also learn that they are regarded as the finest collection of Japanese early 19th-century anatomical drawings, and that the subjects dissected and portrayed were "heinous criminals executed by decapitation."

So pleased that a translator was able to translate this page and answer so many of my questions. Check out the full story here. And see the original collection here.

Japanese Anatomical Charts Expanded

The fine folks at Ectoplasmosis have taken the trouble of assembling some of those Japanese anatomical charts I posted about yesterday into their intended scroll-like continuum. Not as surreal, but lovely none-the-less. Check out their some of their handiwork above. See their post here.

Japanese Anatomical Charts

Thanks to Peacay of Bibliodyssey for sending me the link to these surreally fascinating (and mysterious, as I understand no Japanese) Japanese Anatomical Charts. You can peruse them all (this is just a small sampling) here.