History, Medicine, and Science: Nonfiction and Fiction discussion

I'm currently working on a piece about British painter David Wilkie and stumbled anatomist Charles Bell in early nineteenth century Edinburgh. Bell gave a course of lectures on anatomy designed to help artists improve their portrayal of the classical passions through a better understanding of the muscles and nerves.

This makes me wonder about other examples of this type of intersection of art and science? Da Vinci comes to mind. Who else?

You'll want to look up Andreas Vesalius, who in 1543 produced the first illustrated anatomy textbook. The illustrations are astonishing -- they set the standard for everyone who followed -- and are thought to have been drawn by artists in Titian's studio. Michelangelo also spent a fair amount of time dissecting corpses and learning anatomy ...

Alan wrote: "You'll want to look up Andreas Vesalius, who in 1543 produced the first illustrated anatomy textbook. The illustrations are astonishing -- they set the standard for everyone who followed -- and are..."

*headsmack* You're right. Thanks for the reminder.

For something (slightly) more contemporary, see also Thomas Eakins and the Philadelphia School artists...

Alan wrote: "For something (slightly) more contemporary, see also Thomas Eakins and the Philadelphia School artists..."

Good lead. Thanks.

Not quite what you're looking for, perhaps, but the named 'Bell' rang a bell and made me think of Dr. Joseph Bell. Sitting in on his lectures and in awe of his powers of deductive logic, a young Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle grew inspired, and eventually based Sherlock Holmes loosely on his professor.

A different sort of intersection, but a valuable one nonetheless.

Lara wrote: "Not quite what you're looking for, perhaps, but the named 'Bell' rang a bell and made me think of Dr. Joseph Bell. Sitting in on his lectures and in awe of his powers of deductive logic, a young Dr..."

Great story. I love this kind of info. Thanks for sharing it.

I'm probably the only person who would find this interesting, but Robert Woodward won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his synthesis of complex organic molecules. These molecules would take on a sculptural feel to them and would have a beauty onto themselves. Indeed, he was granted the Nobel Prize "for his outstanding achievements in the art of organic synthesis."

There was a book by another author published back in the 70s entitled Art in Organic Synthesis. It showed the amazing molecules that Woodward and others synthesized, molecules that could truly be called art.

As an aside, I had the chance to hear Woodward lecture at the University of Wisconsin in the late 70s. He talked for hours, but we were all on the edge of our seats. Talk about a bunch of geeks!

Forensic Art involves both art and science: http://www.askaforensicartist.com/

At our local university, the department bridges both the college of life sciences and the art college.

I went to their degree show last year and their work covered everything from the aging process, to recreating a portrait from a Roman coin to digitally unshrinking a shrunken head!

Pete wrote: "I'm probably the only person who would find this interesting, but Robert Woodward won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his synthesis of complex organic molecules. These molecules would take on a sc..."

I attended the Seattle World's Fair (that will date me!) and saw several models demonstrating the Watson-Crick work on DNA. Those larger-than-human size models visualizing in several ways how DNA replicated itself are still clearly lodged in my memory. So add to your list the often nameless curators who use knowledge, imagination and skill to make beautiful representations of complex science to increase understanding.