Trauma

Basic Science

THE ITALIAN ANATOMICAL WAXWORKS
TIMELESS PRESERVATION WITH STEREOPHOTOGRAPHY
Amy Ladd, MD
Palo Alto, CA
March, 2008

Team: Alessandro Ruggeri, Robert A. Chase, Amy Ladd, Francesco Pegreffi, Osvaldo Galletta, Bernard Makison, Sue Makison, Prof. Ottani, Prof. Franchi, Marco Ravenna, and Kingsley Willis.

On May 2-7, 2007, the Stanford team led by Dr. Amy Ladd and Dr. Robert Chase visited the anatomical waxworks at the University of Bologna, Italy. The purpose was to preserve the antique anatomical waxworks through stereophotography and to provide a digital, interactive means of sharing these educational and artistic masterpieces. The goal was to capture, archive, vitalize, and disseminate the artistry of yesterday for the students of today, and for many years to come.

The works were primarily created by the master Clemente Susini and are housed at the Museo delle Cere Anatomiche of Luigi Cattaneo at the Institute of Human Anatomy in Bologna, Italy. The great Susini (1757-1814) created astonishing human models based on dissections of human anatomy by Professor Francesco Antonio Boi in Florence. Although he was not the first master craftsman in this art, he was one of the most prolific. His deft hand created striated muscles, tapering to tendinous ribbons on the limbs and torso, as well as muscles operating the opening mechanism of the eyes. Despite their age and fragility, the internal organs of his models appear as if the laparotomy had just been performed, and the tendons of the hands appear as if the dissection was fresh.

The marvels of these waxworks are largely intact through the efforts of prescient anatomists and curators despite various past owners and dubious preservation conditions. The collection is divided throughout Europe; the majority residing in Italy. By the very fragile nature of their creation in wax, they are not easily transported and are essentially cloistered from the many students and visitors to whom it would be most beneficial to view these creations. They are under glass for safekeeping, thus losing the inherent advantage of examination and interaction with a physical model. The few photographic catalogues of the various collections—important for preserving their existence—do not explore spatial relationships or allow interactivity. Stereoscopic models will archive and enhance the beauty of these waxworks and permit their exposure to a variety of audiences around the world. These catalogues can subsequently be made into interactive teaching modules through a variety of software applications, a particular interest of several of the team members.

After some pilot work, the project is intended to establish the feasibility of creating a large-scale project that will preserve the entire collection in digital interactive format. Participating centers would include: the University of Bologna, La Specola (Florence); University of Cagliari (Sardinia); Josephinum Military Academy of Health Museum (Vienna); the Wellcome Museum of Anatomy and the Royal College of Surgeons (London); the Semmelweis Museum in Budapest; and the Anatomy Department Museum at the University of Leyden in Holland.

Venous plexus of the arms - waxworks from the Museo delle Cere Anatomiche of Luigi Cattaneo at the Institute of Human Anatomy in Bologna, Italy. Their safekeeping under glass preserves their beauty but keeps them inaccessible.
For more information please refer to website: www.summit.stanford.edu/Waxworks/index.html