Official journal of the International Society Revue officielle de la ...

Vesalius, VI, 2, 130-132, 2000the first director of «La Specola», capitalized onthis aversion by pointing out that the wax models,once made, will obviate any further need fordissection. The Grand Duke purchased a blockof houses on Via Romana and provided thenecessary funds for materials and personnel.ExhibitsAt present, there are twenty whole-bodymodels, one skeleton, one torso and onedisassembled body «Venus», which has removableparts to show the succession of theorgans inside the human female, including afetus. In addition, there are 473 wooden plaqueswith one or more wax models arranged asa group (4). Each of the wooden plaques isenclosed in a glass case. Often there is anadjoining illustration, usually a water-colorrendition of the actual model, with leader linesand numbers at the end of the line. The flatdrawers at the bottom of the glass case containone or more sheets with the numbers and thelegend, i.e. the name of the structure, theattachments and function of the muscles, thenerve supply, and other details. The models,located in eight rooms, are grouped by regionsor systems.Fontana envisaged that the collection wouldtake the place, to a large extent, of a treatise onanatomy and the dissection of a body. Hedesigned this method of displaying and labellingthe models so that the collection could be usedas a teaching aid even in the absence of ateacher or guide. A harbinger of our present dayself-study methods, it is unfortunate that modelsof such high quality are so under utilized. Theywould make ideal study specimens for studentsof health sciences who do not have access tocadaver material.Small wax modelsIn addition to the life-size models there areseven small-scale models, approximately 75cm. high, mainly showing various layers of themuscles of the body. Four of these modelscorrespond very closely to four of the life-sizemodels. There are similar small models at theWellcome Museum of the History of Medicine, apart of the Science Museum in South Kensingtonin London. It is deduced that the Londonmodels, made prior to 1775, were precursors ofthe small models at «La Specola» whichpreceded the life-size models at «La Specola».Dating of the modelsEven before the first dissector was hired atthe end of 1772 there were several modelsextant. Around 1772, in the Palazzo Pitti, weresix rooms with anatomical models (2). The largemodels date from 1782 and after. Based on theinscriptions on the base of some of the modelsand biographical sleuthing, it can be deducedthat the models were made between 1775 and1785. Obviously, the early models were basednot on dissection but on some anatomicaltreatise. Detailed study of the models shows thatthey were modelled on the anatomical workTabulae SceletietMusculorum Corporis Humani(1747) by Bernard Sigfried Albinus (6). In turn,Albinus' work could be traced back to that ofBartolomeo Eustachio (1520-1574)(5). Of theforty-seven anatomical plates to be publishedas De dissensionibus ac controversis anatomicisby Eustachio (7), thirty-nine plates were lost anddid not come to light till 150 years later. Whenfound they were published as Tabulaeanatomicae in 1714 (8).Copies - a measure of excellenceCopies of specimens in «LaSpecola», alongwith some originals, exist or did exist in suchdiverse places as London, Vienna, Leiden, Budapest,Montpellier and even in the new world atNew Orleans (Louisiana). In addition they arefound in the departments of anatomy at Cagliari,Padua and Bologna.131