ANATOMY

ANATOMY BEFORE AND AFTER LEONARDO

Leonardo's first interest in human anatomy aimed at being able to represent the body better artistically.

Based on artistic anatomy, Leonardo dared to enter the fields of anatomy-fisiology and pathological anatomy, pursued through the dissection of corpses wih the purpose to better understand the main vital functions. He pursued the objective to write a comprehensive work about anatomy illustrated with his drawings. His precious research paved the way to modern medical science.

However, where was the study of anatomy in Leonardo's times?

We have to go back to the end of the 13th century in Salerno, when the first medical school was founded; in 1300 professor Mondino de’ Luzzi started the first school of human anatomy in Bologna. The first autopsy registered in Italy dates back to 1286; The corpses could be dissected in case of criminal proceedings in order to understand the reasons of the criminals' deaths. Only foreigners or criminals could be dissected. In 1316 the first instruction handbook about this subject matter was released. Leonardo himself had a copy of it.

At the end of the 15th century, the interest for anatomy had risen.

The Fasciculus Medicinae of the German Ketham was an anthology printed in 1491 in Latin in Venice; The Degregoris brothers prepared a later Italian version, which would be of great importance for Leonardo's studies too.

In 1497 the Historia Corporis Humani of the physician Alessandro Benedetti was published: it describes a provisional wooden anatomic theatre realised in Padua. More or less to the same generation belonged Marcantonio Della Torre (who cooperated with Leonardo around 1510) and his great opponent Gabriele Zerbi.

Leonardo focused on the contraction of the muscles to enhance the expression in his paintings. Therefore he dedicated himself also to the studies of physiognomy. The fresco of the “Battle of Anghiari” represents his knowledge in the physiognomic field at its best. It got lost, but a copy made by Rubens in 1603 has survived.

In 1507-1508 Leonardo carried out the autopsy of a centenarian. This allowed him to look into the degenerative processes of the human body.

The fundamental period for Leonardo's anatomy studies fell between 1510 and 1511 and it corresponded to his cooperation with Marcantonio Della Torre, professor at the University of Pavia. Their work gave way to precious contributions to the future of medical science: while Marco Antonio dissected, Leonardo concentrated on the bones and muscles, analysing them and then drawing them in details in his notes, collected under the title "Manoscritto anatomico A". The drawings showed the bodies in so many different levels that were practically impossible to obtain on a dissection table.

In order to learn and better understand the body functions he set to work to replicate its mechanisms and so facilitate their description.

In 1580 the sculptor Pompeo Leoni bought Leonardo's notes. Around 700 sheets arrived at the British Royal Collection in 1690.

In the 18th century the Scottish William Hunter defined Leonardo the most important anatomyst in the world.

In 2012 an exhibition dedicated to Leonardo's anatomic drawings at Buckingham Palace in London disclosed the collection to the public and exhibited 87 sheets of drawings and notes.