Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life
Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.
About Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life
Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.
This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century.
Covering 500 years of medical exploration, Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life features early examples of anatomical art, including sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, lent by Her Majesty The Queen from the Royal Collection. They introduce the search for understanding about the human body and anatomy’s place in the development of medical knowledge across Europe.
You will find out more about the role anatomy played in the Enlightenment. In the 18th century, Edinburgh developed into the leading centre for medical teaching in the UK, and the demand for bodies to dissect and study vastly outstripped legitimate supply. The acquisition of bodies was intertwined with poverty and crime, with grave-robbing (stealing unprotected bodies for dissection) becoming a common practice.
In 1828, William Burke and William and Margaret Hare killed 16 people in the impoverished Edinburgh district of West Port and sold the bodies to an anatomist for dissection. The exhibition examines the circumstances that gave rise to the murders and asks if there were particular reasons that they took place in Edinburgh. It unpicks the relationship between science and deprivation and looks at the public reaction to the crimes and the anatomical practices responsible for them.
The exhibition also highlights the changing practices and attitudes around body provision in the century and a half since the Burke and Hare murders, bringing the story right up to date. It looks at the modern approach to body donation at universities in Scotland and contrasts the ethics, practices and beliefs today with those of two centuries ago.
Among the objects on display, you'll see a 'mort safe', a heavy iron box placed over a coffin to deter would-be body snatchers. Other notable objects include a full-body anatomical model by pioneering model maker Louis Auzoux, ground-breaking casts of body parts, William Burke's skeleton and written confession, and the Arthur's Seat miniature coffins.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at National Museum of Scotland
Cold War Scotland
Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.
READ MOREMonkeys: Our Primate Family
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family' at the National Museum of Scotland.
READ MORE
Summer Family Fun
Drop-in for some holiday fun and games at the National Museum of Scotland this summer.
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks
Join us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!
READ MORE
Monkeys: Our Primate Family
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family' at the National Museum of Scotland.
READ MORE
The Scottish Colourists with The Fleming Collection
Meet Theo Albano, Director of the Fleming Collection, at Dovecot on Sunday 29th June, as we say farewell to the Scottish Colourists.
READ MORE
Visual Arts Scotland: Inches Carr Craft Development Award Showcase Exhibition
The Inches Carr Craft Development Award Showcase Exhibition, at Dundas Street Gallery from 2nd to 6th July, will highlight 16 shortlisted crafters and makers.
READ MORE
Alexander Goudie: La Belle Vie – Act II
The Scottish Gallery proudly presents the second chapter in our celebration of Alexander Goudie’s vivid worlds: the sunlit traditions of Brittany and the theatrical elegance of Glasgow.
READ MORE
Karen Stamper :: Salvage
&Gallery is delighted to welcome back Karen Stamper for her first solo exhibition, Salvage, showing for 5th to 30th July.
READ MORE
Odysseys Through The Storm
Catch this captivating exhibition showcasing the work of Art Psychotherapy graduates from Queen Margaret University at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall from 8th to 12th July!
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links