Introduction

Andreas Vesalius's exhaustive anatomical study of the human body, De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem invites superlatives. Published in 1543, it is easily the most famous, most influential and most beautiful anatomical work ever created. With more than 200 magnificently detailed woodblock illustrations, the Fabrica combines scientific method, text, illustration and typography in a wholly new way that revolutionized the study of anatomy, elevating Vesalius to the ranks of physicians like Hippocrates, Galen and Lister and earning him the title: Father of Modern Anatomy.

Beyond the field of medicine, the Fabrica stands on its own as a masterpiece of book art and Renaissance ideals. It remains a prized possession today, holding an honored place in the rare book collections of over 100 libraries worldwide (Nutton, 2003). The sole fully colored copy, each woodcut illustration hand-painted by a skilled miniaturist, sold at a Christie's auction for over 1.6 million dollars in the mid-1990s (Christie's, 1998). This dollar value gives some sense of the significance of the Fabrica; this study will consider the book in depth to give a more complete picture of its importance.