Tag Archives: Gautier D’Agoty

Colored Anatomy Plates from Essai D’Anatomie – 1745

April 5th, 2013 | Brain

ESSAI-D’ANATOMIE-Cover

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The Anatomy plates above come from a French book published in 1745 by Gautier D’Agoty titled “Essai D’Anatomie.” The illustrations represent incredibly detailed head & neck anatomy that must certainly have been some of the best images of the time.

Joseph Duverny dissected the human cadavers and D’Agoty used the mezzotint method of engraving and printing to create the plates.  The mezzotint technique is known for the luxurious quality of its tones and rich dark areas. They are beautiful, albeit macabre, representations of the human body.

The original copy of “Essai d’Anatomie” is currently a member of the Rudolph Matas Library at Tulane University.  The images were restored, bound, and digitized by William Kitchens William Kitchens on May 6, 2008.

You can download the full text here.

-RSB