Human anatomy books contain some of the most incredibly detailed illustrations of the early modern era. These books were the foundation of scholarly understandings of muscles, skeletons, and how bodies worked in everyday life. Students, practitioners, and scholars alike studied these illustrations in esteemed libraries to further understand the human body.

Anatomie du Gladiateur Combattant, Applicable aux Beaux-Arts was created by Jean-Galbert Salvage, a French military surgeon who spent much of his scholarly life mapping human anatomical models onto Greco-Roman sculptures. These sculptures were often regarded as great models of a generic human form during this period. This illustration shows the muscular structure (left) and skeletal structure (right) on the head of the Belvedere Apollo, whose sculptural elements can still be seen where the hair on the head is. Keys on the bottom indicate specific muscles, bones, and other details in French.

Author: Jean-Galbert Salvage
Date of Creation: 1812