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Proceedings SNO “LXI Congresso Nazionale SNO”

Figure 1. From Gui-
do da Vigevano, A-
nathomia Designata
per Figures, 1345.

The first illustrated printed book with iconographic JOHANNES EICHMANN, known as DRYANDER (1500-
criteria entirely dedicated to anatomy, Commentaria 1560) provided in his Anatomiae a striking and beauti-
cum amplissimis additionibus super anatomia Mun- ful illustrated work with the most realistic rendering of
dini, was published in 1521 by JACOPO BERENGARIO the surface of the brain before Vesalius, such as the set
DA CARPI (1460-1530). Berengario was the first to un- of illustrations that depicted in detail the dura mater but
derstand the didactic value of images in printed texts he did not have a similar command of involved talent-
and to realize the importance of direct experience: ed artists as had Vesalius, because of inaccuracies of
anatomy cannot be acquired “per solam vivam vocem, his work reflecting medieval scholasticism (Figure 3).
aut per scripturam” but “visus et tactus” are also in- With ANDREAS VESALIUS (1514-1564) for the first
dispensable. In the second edition of his book Isagoge time the anatomical descriptions were accompanied
breves Perlucide ac uberimae in Anatomiam humani by illustrations based on the dissections of human
corporis (1522) is inserted a woodcut, considered the material that reveal the realistic representation of the
first realistic illustration of the human brain, with the human figure. As a manifesto of the new method of
representation of the dura mater reflected to show the study the work of Vesalius, rejecting the views of his
brain from above, resulting from a direct anatomical Galenic teachers, can be considered a revolutionary
dissection (Figure 2). text. Vesalius, appropriating the idea of autopsy as the

Figura 2. From
Berengario da Car-
pi, Isagoge breves,
1522.

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