The Lady Anatomist: The Life and Work of Anna Morandi Manzolini
Rebecca Messbarger
Abstract
Anna Morandi Manzolini (1714–74), a woman artist and scientist, surmounted meager origins and limited formal education to become one of the most acclaimed anatomical sculptors of the Enlightenment. This book tells the story of her arresting life and times, in light of the intertwined histories of science, gender, and art that complicated her rise to fame in the eighteenth century. Examining the details of Morandi's remarkable life, it traces her intellectual trajectory from provincial artist to internationally renowned anatomical wax modeler for the University of Bologna's famous medical schoo ... More
Anna Morandi Manzolini (1714–74), a woman artist and scientist, surmounted meager origins and limited formal education to become one of the most acclaimed anatomical sculptors of the Enlightenment. This book tells the story of her arresting life and times, in light of the intertwined histories of science, gender, and art that complicated her rise to fame in the eighteenth century. Examining the details of Morandi's remarkable life, it traces her intellectual trajectory from provincial artist to internationally renowned anatomical wax modeler for the University of Bologna's famous medical school. Placing Morandi's work within its cultural and historical context, as well as in line with the Italian tradition of anatomical studies and design, the book uncovers the messages contained within her wax inscriptions, part complex theories of the body and part poetry.
Keywords:
Anna Morandi Manzolini,
education,
Enlightenment,
University of Bologna,
anatomical studies,
wax inscriptions,
theories of body,
poetry
Bibliographic Information
Print publication date: 2010 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780226520810 |
Published to Chicago Scholarship Online: March 2013 |
DOI:10.7208/chicago/9780226520841.001.0001 |