Anatomy, Artistic; Animals in art; Zoological illustration
It is chiefly by employment of examples that we approach the subject.
These strike the imagination of the student more forcibly, and the
presentation of models of a certain choice, although rough in execution,
is, in our opinion, preferable to considerations of an order possibly
more exalted, but of a character less clearly practical. Let us, then,
ask the question: Those artists whose eminence nobody would dare to
question, did they study anatomy? If the answer be in the affirmative,
we surely cannot permit ourselves to believe that we can dispense with a
similar course. And, as proof of the studies of this class which the
masters have made, we may cite Raphael, Michelangelo, and, above all,
Leonardo da Vinci; and, of the moderns, Géricault. And we may more
clearly define these proofs by an examination of the reproductions of
their anatomical works, chosen from certain of their special
writings.[1]
[1] Mathias Duval and A. Bical, 'L'anatomie des Maîtres.' Thirty
plates reproduced from the originals of Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Raphael, Géricault, etc., with letterpress and a
history of plastic anatomy, Paris, 1890.
The manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci of the Royal Library,
Windsor, 'Anatomy, Foliæ A.,' published by Théodore Sabachnikoff,
with a French translation, written and annotated by Giovanni
Piumati, with an introduction by Mathias Duval. Édouard Rouveyre,
publisher, Paris, 1898.
Mathias Duval and Édouard Cuyer, 'History of Plastic Anatomy: The
Masters, their Books, and Anatomical Figures' (Library of
Instruction of the School of Fine Arts), Paris, 1898.
Accordingly, there is no scope for serious discussion, and it only
remains for us to enunciate the opinion that it is necessary that we
should imitate those masters, and, with a sense of respectful
discipline, follow their example.
Here, with regard to the anatomy of animals, we pursue the same method,
and the example chosen shall be that of Barye. His talent is too far
above all criticism to allow that this example should be refused. The
admiration which the works of this great artist elicit is too
wide-spread for us to remain uninfluenced by the lessons furnished by
his studies. It is sufficient to see the sketches relating to these
studies, and his admirable casts from nature which form part of the
anatomical museum of the École des Beaux-Arts, to be convinced that the
artistic temperament, of which Barye was one of the most brilliant
examples, has nothing to lose by its association with researches the
precision of which might seem likely to check its complete expansion.
[Illustration: FIG. III.--REPRODUCTION OF A SKETCH OF BARYE (COLLECTIONS
OF THE ANATOMICAL MUSEUM OF THE ÉCOLE DES BEAUX-ARTS--HUGUIER MUSEUM).]
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