Wax Venus. Picture © Wellcome Library, London
Exhibition: Exquisite Bodies, The Wellcome Collection, London, until October 18 2009
The Wellcome Collection's summer exhibition explores the fascinating and often murky world of anatomical models, which had a dual historical role to both titillate and educate.
Displays of anatomical models were so popular in 19th century London that there were seven dedicated establishments, drawing in huge crowds every week. Curators at the Wellcome are hoping that the curious, grotesque and sometimes exquisite models will hold the same intrigue for a 21st century audience.
It takes you on a chronological journey of anatomical models, from being regarded as a sophisticated and radical way of learning about the body to being shunned by the establishment and becoming part of the fairground freak show.
Models were initially created in response to the shortage of cadavers for students to work on and, as one early poster says, to "Know Thy Self" by teaching the masses about reproduction, internal organs and the ravages of disease.
Dissection of the Head and Neck, Joseph Towne (circa 1827-79.) Picture: The Gordon Museum, Kings College London
The centrepiece of the first section is an anatomical Venus made up of a multitude of removable parts allowing a number of dissections to be carried out on her body.
As well as being a scientific depiction of the internal organs of the body, it has also been heavily influenced by classical art history, with flowing hair and classical features that, even with its open stomach, make it rather beautiful.
As you move into the next section of the exhibition the models become significantly more realistic, particularly the examples from Joseph Towne, who was the anatomical model maker at Guy's Hospital in London for 53 years from 1826.
His representations of the body are alarmingly realistic and true to the cadavers they were modelled on, even down to the stubble on the face and the chipped teeth. One example shows the inside of the thorax.
Extraction of the Placenta. Picture © Collection Family Coolen, Antwerp / Museum Dr Guislain, Gent, Belgium
When anatomical models fell out of favour, the displays were moved to less salubrious areas of cities, and many became part of travelling shows.
A piece which neatly represents the two-pronged existence of the anatomical model as both titillater and teacher is the model of a sword swallower. It shows the internal organs that the sword passes through with brightly coloured ribbons, and we are told it would have been displayed with a live sword swallower in action.
Works taken from the Grand Musee de L'Homme in Brussels are certainly not for the faint hearted, and could have gone some way to encouraging 19th century viewers to lead a monastic lifestyle.
Bearded Lady. Picture © Collection Family Coolen, Antwerp / Museum Dr Guislain, Gent, Belgium
The series shows the progression of syphilis in stomach-churning detail. They were seen as such an effective deterrent that military recruits, a particularly high-risk group, were offered reduced admission to the museum.
In Spain, the successful fairground entrepreneur Senor Roca assembled his "parade of monsters" in the heart of Barcelona's Barrio Chino red light district, combining the carnivalesque with the culturally enlightening.
Despite some quirky exhibits, including a two-headed calf and a waxwork of a bearded lady, the Museo Roca dealt with transfer and prevention of disease in a very frank and radical way for a Catholic country at the beginning of the 20th century.
Original Exhibition Sign. Picture © Collection Family Coolen, Antwerp / Museum Dr Guislain, Gent, Belgium
Visitors probably craved a stiff drink after being buffeted by graphic depictions of various human afflictions and internal organs, but the Museo Roca was highly progressive in addressing social problems such as alcoholism.
An original poster shows the impact alcohol has on each of your organs, what it does to your appearance and the immediate affects of alcohol through a cartoon of a "rat-arsed" rat.
This fascinating exhibition draws on the Wellcome Collection's immense hoard as well as a number of international collections, forging a unique insight into the human form. It may be a little challenging for the highly squeamish.
