Saint John’s Preparatory School Student Work

Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

10-31-2024

Advisor

Kelly Fitch and Sarah Pasela

Abstract

In the sixteenth century, the disciplines of art and anatomy provided valuable insights to one another. This paper explores the question: in what ways did the intertwined studies of art and anatomy during the Italian Renaissance contribute to advancements in each field, and what influence does this still have on studies today? First, to accurately portray humans in art, artists had to turn to dissection as a way to improve their knowledge of the human body. Some artists who used dissections were Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. One resulting advancement was how da Vinci’s anatomical notes were later published to help disprove Galen’s previous inaccurate medical beliefs. Another advancement was the founding of the first art academies with Michelangelo as Honorary President of the Accademia del Disegno. Even today, art and anatomy continue to influence university art classes and medical anatomy classes, showing that throughout time, there have been mutual benefits in both fields.

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