Overview

Artists were in many ways the driving force behind the study of medicine. Seeking to perfect their skills in realism and accuracy, artists, rather than professional anatomists, studied the bodies of animals and men. Not content to just observe animals, they gained first hand knowledge of anatomy through dissection.

Another great contributing force was the development of the printing press, which enabled not only textual information but also drawings to be replicated. The manufacture of paper, as well as improvements in wood engraving, made possible a growing number of illustrated books. As in all areas, the power of visual images attests to the adage that "a picture is worth a thousand words." The impact of art and visual representations was shattering.

Several illustrators of the period were responsible for this development. Johannes de Ketham (fl...