Andreas Vesalius and his Fabrica, 1537–1564: Changing the World of Anatomy

This monograph presents a study of the most significant book in the history of anatomy, Fleming Andreas Vesalius’ (1514-1564) De humani corporis fabrica. Vesalius’ Fabrica was immediately recognised as changing the view of the human body when it was published in 1543, and it remains iconic today. Despite this, little has been written about Vesalius’ later revisions and corrections to the work, as well as his annotations leading up to the book. The author addresses this lacuna by examining the Fabrica from its inception in Paris in the 1530s, through its publication in 1543, to subsequent revisions and its present status as an expensive treasure. The book also contains new discoveries about the period of Vesalius’ earliest publications from 1537-8, the printing and production of the 1543 Fabrica, and the extensive remaking of the 1555 edition. Chapters also explore Vesalius’ background in new humanist medicine and anatomical teaching in Paris and Italy, the verbal message that the Fabrica was intended to convey, and the immediate responses to the book. Acknowledgements Contents A Brief Chronology of Early Sixteenth-Century Anatomy Writings List of Figures 1 Introduction Notes 2 Before the Fabrica The Young Vesalius Paris and Humanist Medicine From Louvain to Basle: The Paraphrasis Humanist Anatomy Before the Fabrica The Young Professor Moving away from Galenic Anatomy Notes 3 The 1543 Fabrica Preparing the Fabrica: Artists, Printers and New Audiences The Message of the Fabrica: The Images The Message of the Fabrica: The Text Vesalius, Aristotle and Galen Notes 4 After 1543 The Parting of the Ways and First Reactions The 1555 Edition The Last Years Defending the Fabrica The Later History of the Fabrica: The Wooden Blocks The Later History of the Fabrica: From Textbook to Icon Owners and Users Notes 5 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index