Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 457

JOHANN REMMELIN (1583-1632) Anathomie du corps humain. Chez Gerard Jollain [ca. 1650] 1 folded sheet ([3] pp.), illus. 47.8 cm.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 456

The anatomical fugitive sheet, especially in vogue from 1538 until 1580, was printed on one side of one or more large sheets of paper. The sheets were then pasted together and folded to a convenient size to form the final illustration. It is believed that they were issued largely for the convenience of students because book prices were very high until the late sixteenth century. However, the significant number of artists and publishers active in the production of fugitive sheets suggests that there was also great demand among the general population to satisfy their desire for knowledge of the human body. Fugitive sheets reached the height of their development with the work of the present author in the early seventeenth century but continued to be issued as late as the 1690s. Their very nature limited their survival and they are now extremely rare. The present anatomical fugitive sheet has been positively identified as Remmelin's male figure. It is in excellent condition with the seven superimposed flaps depicting the abdominal viscera and skeleton completely intact. Separate engravings of individual organs surround the erect figure and letterpress explanation in French is contained on accompanying sheets to either side of the figure.

Gift of John Martin, M.D.