Skelet met spade 1636 - 1649

This is an anonymous drawing of a skeleton with a spade, made with pen in grey-brown ink and grey wash. The drawing might seem strange to us today, but during the 17th and 18th centuries, detailed anatomical studies such as this were considered to be of great importance to medical science. They were also crucial to the training of artists. The skeleton is carefully labeled with letters and cross-referenced with a key. The level of detail in this drawing tells us a great deal about how the human body was coming to be understood, classified, and taught during the period. It reflects a culture of scientific inquiry that was changing Europe at the time. The history of art also involves the history of institutions of science and medicine, and the ways in which these fields informed artistic production. By studying these kinds of images, and by considering the social and intellectual context in which they were made, we can better understand the meaning and purpose of art in earlier times.