Figure 70: Anatomical wax models

 

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14th century: first anatomical wax models

Teaching medicine

Representation of an idealtypically picture

The production process

Waxworks: exposition of wax figures

 

 

 

14th century: first anatomical wax models

 

We assume that the first anatomical models have been shaped in the early 14th century in the course of investigating the vascular system. Molten wax was injected into the vessels, forming a cast that was carefully dissected out from the surrounding tissue. Another of the earliest models was created by none other than Leonardo da Vinci, who injected wax into the ventricular septum of the brain to bring out the detailed structures, and carefully recorded his method in his notebooks (T. N. Haviland, L. C. Parish 1970; J. T. Chen et al. 1999).

 

 

Teaching medicine

 

„In the outgoing 16th century artists began to produce sculptural anatomical models of wax for teaching medicine. Precursors were wax sculptures serving as models for artists and as collector’s objects in the chambers or museums of art and rarities of that time. Famous manufacturers are Ludovico Cardi from Florence around 1590, the Genuese Guillaume Desnoues and Dutchman Swammerdam around 1650“ (Charlotte Angeletti 1980, 25).

 

 

Representation of an idealtypically picture

 

Edith Almhofer (2002, 25-26) states: „Despite their extreme realism anatomical models never were pictures of reality but representations of an idealtypical picture of the human body ... The model shows the timeless young, in all systems optimal shaped, healthy and beautiful body. With his help reality should not be recognized again but recognized better.“

Helmut Gröger (2002) describes in detail how these wax models served as teaching aids for young physicians. But the estimation of these wax preparations was small.

 

 

The production process

 

Precise descriptions of the sophisticated production process of anatomical wax models are given by Heike Kleindienst (1989) and Manfred Skopec (2002, 56-63). Documents found in Florence reveal that for the production of a total body up to 200 corpses had to be dissected before the numerous partial casts could be composed to the final show piece.

Sometimes the whole process took eight to ten months, and the finishing of nerves and vessels any more so that an elaborate model took as much as twenty months to be perfected.

 

 

Waxworks: exposition of wax figures

 

Around 1650 the first waxworks were established. „Antoine Benoist was one of the first manufacturers who made commercial use of the wax portraits he produced. In 1668 he got a permit to expose in public some of his wax figures, showong members of the royal court and of the legation of Maroc, Algier and Moscovia“ (Charlotte Angeletti 1980, 31).

The most famoux wax museum was established 1802 in London by the Swiss Marie Grossholz, called "Madame Tussaud".

 

 

Bibliography

model: special topics – Wachsbildnerei/ medizinische Modelle