Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Beautiful Bones

The Daily Mail has an interesting article about the anatomical models of Giovan Battista Risi.  What makes these pieces particularly interesting is that they aren't really models.  These are sections of real bodies, preserved over two centuries ago with a variety of chemical preparations.


I was struck by how much these specimens resemble modern gaffs, an impression furthered by the use of artificial hair, teeth, and eyes.  If you're curious, the scientific paper based on the radiological examination of the pieces is available over here.


I was also amused by how much this specimen resembles actress Summer Glau.  The pose is almost identical to one from a pivotal scene in the "Samson and Delilah" episode of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles".


1 comment:

  1. An interesting article overall. You are right that they appear much like 19th century gaffs. The Italians have a number of preserved remains from tombs on display. Professor Alfredo Salafina had a process that seemed the most satisfactory. There have been a few programs produced about the catacombs of the Capuchins in Palermo.

    http://www.mummytombs.com/mummylocator/featured/rosalia.htm
    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/01/090126-sicily-mummy.html
    A miscellany of mummies: http://listverse.com/2009/12/24/top-10-famous-mummified-bodies/

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