Article Abstract:The art of wax modelling has an ancient origin but rose to prominence in
14th century Italy with the cult of votive artefacts. With the advent
of Neoclassicism this art, now deemed repulsive, continued to survive in
a scientific environment, where it flourished in the study of normal
and pathological anatomy, obstetrics, zoology and botany. The
achievement of having originated the creation of anatomical models in
coloured wax must be ascribed to a joint effort undertaken by the
Sicilian wax modeller Gaetano Giulio Zumbo and the French surgeon
Guillaume Desnoues in the late 17th century. Interest in anatomical wax
models spread throughout Europe during the 18th century, first in
Bologna with Ercole Lelli, Giovanni Manzolini and Anna Morandi, and then
in Florence with Felice Fontana and Clemente Susini. In England, the
art of anatomical ceroplastics was brought to London from Florence by
the sculptor Joseph Towne. Throughout the centuries many anatomical
artists preferred this material due to the remarkable mimetic likeness
obtained, far surpassing any other material. Independent of the material
used, whether wood, wax or clay, anatomical models were always
considered merely craft works confined to hospitals or
faculties of medicine and have survived to this day only because of
their scientific interest. Italian and English waxes are stylistically
different but the remarkable results obtained by Susini and Towne, and
the fact that some contemporary artists are again representing
anatomical wax bodies in their works, makes the border that formerly
separated art and craft indistinguishable.
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-T.M.
This was very interesting, the work is amazing, I have personally seen the wax body museum, La Specola and its not like anything I had ever seen before. The detail, persission, sheer size and amount of bodies was unbelievable. But i think the anatomy wax work is one of the kinds of crafts that sits on the fence between craft art and craftsmanship work. The skill level required to make these wax figures is outstanding and there is not very much lee way for creativity and concept when trying to make an exact replica of a human body, but on the other hand, how can this amazing craft work not be consider art.
ReplyDeleteI also want to consider the fact that these wax bodies were originally created by artists for medical, and research purposes, but now they are only shown in art museums. I think that shows how far we have come as a society to recognize the effort and beauty of the craft. Although i think we still lack the full recognition of the craft art, we can appreciate what the past has to offer and teach us.
I had no idea that wax modeling was used for such important reasons. This was an educating article discussion with some very well made points. The amount of skill and attention to detail to makes these wax bodies look so realistic is outstanding. And its functional purpose is for something important is interesting. This was a good read and change to learn more about it.
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