Andreas Vesalius was among a handful of innovators who set out to understand the workings of the human body through dissection and description. He published his findings in this 1543 book, which revolutionized our understanding of anatomy. This was largely accomplished through a magnificent series of woodcut illustrations, the likes of which had not been seen before. The Flemish Vesalius, working in Italy, had the blocks carved by artisans in Venice, then transported them across the Alps to Switzerland, where they were printed along with his text.
This special exhibition at the Folger features rare books from the collection of Stuart and Mimi Rose that present literary, cultural, and historical high points.
