XVIII century anatomical models at La Specola, Florence.

At 17 via Romana in the Oltrarno section of Florence are housed, in the Natural History Museum (La Specola), some of the most interesting anatomical models ever made. In the 2 centuries since these wax models were made they have not been surpassed in their true-to-life appearance in spite of modern technology. Unfortunately the models are little known to health scientists, including anatomists, especially in the English-speaking countries. This study presents pertinent historical and descriptive facts about the models--each piece a perfect blend of science and art--and about copies of them or satellite collections in other European countries. The anatomical source for these models is the work of the Dutch Anatomist, Bernard Siegfried Albinus (1697 to 1770) and Jan Wanderlaer (1690-1759), his artist and engraver. It also discusses the little known fact that copies of some of these models were purchased in 1850 for the then Medical Department of the University of Louisiana in New Orleans.