Anatomical Waxes. 45th Ed

A book that gets under the skin in every sense, containing hundreds of vivid photographs of intricate anatomical waxworks, created more than two centuries ago to astounding levels of accuracy. The models were intended to advance medical understanding at a time when scientific curiosity and intellectual fervor were sweeping Europe. Housed in Florence's La Specola museum, which opened its doors in 1775 to visitors of all social classes-itself a visionary notion at the time-, the specimens have served as both educational tools and objects of public fascination ever since.

Each model is a unique fusion of art and science, meticulously crafted to reveal the hidden wonders of the human body. From detailed musculature to finely rendered organs, they serve as a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, names like Gaetano Giulio Zumbo and Clemente Susini, who achieved incredible accuracy centuries before body imaging technologies came about.