Anatomical Man (Ecorché), c. 1600
Unknown artist, Italyexpand_more
Bronzeexpand_more
The William Hood Dunwoody Fundexpand_more 61.35.4
On View in Gallery 310expand_more
Through its active stance, this ecorché (literally, a "flayed" figure) becomes a living cadaver. The pose, drawn from classical statuary, provides an excellent opportunity to display the muscles in action, notably seen here in the differing tensions and movements of the shoulder, neck, and thigh muscles. The ecorché demonstrates the practice of anatomical representation that arose during the Renaissance from an interest in the human body and its functions. Illustrated anatomy books, and particularly Vesalius' Fabrica, published in 1543, established the activated flayed corpse as the dominant type of anatomical representation. It remained so until the Borghese Gladiator was discovered around 1610 (see the full-scale cast in this gallery). This provided a new model for the study of muscular anatomy as an intact, healthy body.
Details
- Title
- Anatomical Man (Ecorché)
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 61.35.4
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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