Antique Print-T.84.-ANATOMY-CALF-LEG-de Lairesse-Bidloo-1728 Gerard de Lairesse Prints by Category > Medical-Anatomy

Antique print, titled: ''T.84.'' - Tab. 84: : Anatomical dissection of the lower leg and calf musculature, with emphasis on the posterior compartment. The illustration presents the powerful gastrocnemius muscle (E), dissected to show its large fleshy bellies attaching superiorly to the femoral condyles and merging into the robust Achilles tendon, inserting onto the calcaneus. Beneath this, the soleus (F), a broad and flat muscle, is shown arising from the posterior tibia and fibula, forming much of the muscular mass of the calf. Medially, the plantaris muscle (G) is displayed, a slender structure with a long tendon that runs between the gastrocnemius and soleus to attach near the heel, contributing to the plantar flexion mechanism. Also visible are the flexor hallucis longus (H), flexor digitorum longus (K), and the tibialis posterior (I), each traced through their course down the leg, emphasizing their function in toe flexion and foot support. The knee joint anatomy (A, B, C) and the full tibial shaft (D) frame the composition. Original legend sheet available on request (if available due to legends of 2 plates being on 1 sheet).Made by Gerard de Lairesse after Govard Bidloo (author).Medium: Copperplate engraving on hand laid (verge) paper.Sheet size: 34.5 x 51 cm (13.58 x 20.08 inch). Image size: 26 x 42 cm. (10.24 x 16.54 inch).T.84.-ANATOMY-CALF-LEG | BOEK-BIDLOOBACKGROUND INFORMATIONOntleding des Menschelyken Lichaams', Utrecht, 1728, published by Jacob van Poolsum. A later Dutch version of Govard Bidloo's most famous work, his monumental Anatomia humani corporis published in Amsterdam in 1685, containing 107 copperplate engravings. Like so many large and expensive anatomical atlases of the time, the work was not a financial success, and in 1690 he published a Dutch translation entitled, Ontleding des menschelyken lichaams, using the same plates. When this edition did not sell well either, Bidloo's publisher sold 300 of the extra printed plates to William Cowper, a noted English anatomist. Cowper published the plates with his own, English language text in Oxford in 1698 under the title, Anatomy of the humane bodies, without mentioning Bidloo or the artists of the original plates. Cowper went so far as to use Bidloo's engraved allegorical title page, amended with an irregular piece of paper lettered: "The anatomy of the humane bodies .," which fits over the Dutch title (see a comparison here). A number of vitriolic exchanges took place between Bidloo and Cowper, including several pamphlets published in each anatomist's defense. Cowper claimed, without much evidence presented, that the plates were not Bidloo's at all, but that they were commissioned by Jan Swammerdam (1637 1680) and that after his death Swammerdam's widow had sold them to Bidloo. The illustrations in Bidloos' work were drawn by Gerard de Lairesse (1640 1711) and engraved by Abraham Blooteling (1640 1690) and Peter van Gunst (1659? 1724?).Reference: Choulant, L. History and bibliography of anatomic illustration. Trans. and annotated by Mortimer Frank. (New York: Hafner, 1962). Pp. 250-253; Russell, K. F. British anatomy, 1525 1800: a bibliography of works published in Britain, America and on the Continent. 2nd ed. (Winchester, Hampshire: St. Paul's Bibliographies, 1987). Introduction and nos. 211-214; National Library of Medicine (US) Unique ID: 2312021R.Text page included (if available, due to 2 text pages printed on ene shheet, otherwise a copy).Biography engraver: Gerard de Lairesse (1640 1711) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and art theorist, known for his classical and allegorical themes.Biography artist: Govard Bidloo (1649 1713) was a Dutch physician, anatomist, and poet, renowned for his anatomical atlas and contribution to medical illustration. Condition: good, given age. Light foxing, creasing and soiling, mostly affecting the margin. Some tears in paper edges, not effecting the image. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects