Eve's anatomical model

A 17th century wooden anatomical Eve from a private collection was shown at the exhibition "Anatomie des Vanités" at the Erasmus House /La Maison d'Érasme in Brussels in 2008.

A 17th century wooden anatomical Eve from a private collection. Detail, rear view, head in section.

Such human anatomical models were a much sought-after item in the 17th century. Anatomical theaters, where lectures were held with theatrical dissection of corpses by doctors in ceremonial costumes, were a popular phenomenon at that time. Artificial models of the human body for teaching and entertainment are from the same line of interests. Lectures on anatomy with moulages of internal organs, including genitals and in section, remained one of the popular entertainments until the end of the 18th century, gathering crowds of spectators. Contemplation of the stuffing of the human body stunned, beguiled, and mesmerized.

Anatomical Eve full-length closed and open. Pregnant, as we can see. / Wooden Anatomical Eve. "Anatomie des Vanités" Exhibition, Brussels, Belgium, 2008

Autopsies reveal that there is something physical and little aesthetic inside the body, not at all spiritual. Finding the soul among the internal organs, bones and tissues is not easy. And so 17th-century Eve became very material.