Top View of a Child’s Fontanel | Anatomical Study of Human Skin and Nail 1737
janladmiral1
aged paper
toned paper
water colours
possibly oil pastel
coloured pencil
underpainting
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
mixed media
watercolor
"Top View of a Child’s Fontanel | Anatomical Study of Human Skin and Nail" is a watercolor on paper study by Jan l'Admiral (1699-1773). Created in 1737, the artwork shows a close-up view of a child's fontanel, a soft spot on the skull that allows for brain growth, alongside pieces of human skin and a fingernail. The detailed rendering of these anatomical elements highlights l'Admiral's keen eye for observation and his interest in the intricacies of the human body. This piece, measuring 117mm x 146mm, serves as a testament to the 18th-century fascination with scientific illustration and its role in advancing medical knowledge.
Comments
Commissioned by doctors, Jan l’Admiral made detailed anatomical design drawings, of which he later made prints to illustrate their medical treatises. He probably chose parchment because the ‘living’ character of the material suited the subjects. The skull belonged to an unknown child who died before birth. The skin was that of an Ethiopian woman, which begs the question of how the doctors obtained their study materials.
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