An iconography of Andreas Vesalius.

  • Thompson, C. J. S. (Charles John Samuel), 1862-1943.
Date:
[between 1920 and 1929?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: An iconography of Andreas Vesalius. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    AN ICONOGRAPHY OF ANDREAS VESALIUS. It will be remembered that in 1914 the University of Brussels initiated a movement to celebrate the quater-centenary of the birth of Andreas Vesalius, and a committee was formed under the presidency of Professor Dr. Paul Heger of the University of Brussels to carry out the plan. The permanent form which this celebration was designed to take was the publication of a Liber Memorialis in honour of the father of modern anatomy”. This memorial work was intended to take the shape of a collection of essays which were to be contributed by a group of selected scholars, the best authorities on their several subjects. The late Sir William Osler was greatly interested in this memorial, and took an active part towards its preparation. Mr. M. H. Spielmann who is well-known as an authority and writer on art, was invited to undertake to form an Iconography of Vesalius, which was to be complete in every respect, and form a lasting memorial to the great anatomist. This part of the work was duly carried out. Then came the Great War, which put an end to the celebra¬ tion in Brussels, and also to the arrangements for carrying out the celebration of the memorial, and for some years the matter has lain dormant. A general opinion was expressed by lovers of Vesalius in Belgium, in England and in America that this Iconography should see the light, as by itself it might be regarded — even at this date — as a reminder of the anniversary which the world of medical science was preparing in 1914 to celebrate. It has therefore now been arranged that it should be published in its complete form from the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum WELLCOME COLL /(86)