The Clemente Susini's Anatomical Waxes of the University of Cagliari: their artistic, scientific, and teaching relevance

摘要

The waxes were made in 1803-1805, later than those of the La Specola in Florence and of the Josephinuin in Vienna, and represent a work of the maturity of Clemente Susini (1754-1814) the chief modeler of La Specola Museum. The dissections were performed by Francesco Antonio Boi (1767-1865), the anatomist from the University of Cagliari who had been sent on purpose to Florence by the Viceroy of Sardinia Carlo Felice of Savoy (1765-1831). The 64 models which arrived in Cagliari in 1806, contained in 23 showcases, are attached to 23 wooden tables that still bear the original tag with date and Susini's signature The latter is a distinctive character in that, of the over 2000 models, accomplished under Susini' guidance, only a handful bear his signature. The waxes were made when Susini was eventually free from the oppressing influence of Felice Fontana (1730-1805) who, in that time, was no more the manager of La Specola. They are of great artistic and didactic value and, thanks to Boi, a few mistakes, as the representation of lymphatic in brain, and omissions seen in the other collections, are absent here.