Human bones in the foreground; skeletons in the background. Engraving after C. Martinez, ca. 1680 (?).

Crisóstomo Martínez (ca. 1638-ca. 1694) was a Spanish anatomist and artist who worked at the University of Valencia and in Paris. Most of his engravings are minute microscopic studies of bone tissue, revealing its great internal complexity. This engraving combines various related subjects. The foreground shows the different forms which bones can take; above, an array of skeletons performs various tasks to demonstrate how the bones interact and how they provide counterpoise to each other in complex actions. The whole scene is set in a mausoleum containing baroque tombs, as the tomb is the natural home for a skeleton