Thomson, Arthur.

A Handbook of Anatomy for Art Students.

Fourth Edition. Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1915. 15.5 cm x 22 cm. XVIII, 459 pages. 66 full black and white plates and numerous other illustrations throughout. Hardback bound in green cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Evidence of strong wear with damage to front cover and detached front free endpaper and half-title. A brown-paper hand-written nameplate in pen and ink on front pastedown and occasional pencil markings in text.Overall shaky and poor condition but interior still enjoyable.

Chapters include, for example: The Influence of Posture on the Form of Man / General Description of the Bones and Joints / The Fore-Arm / The Hand / The Leg and Foot / The Head, Face and Expression / etc.

Illustrations include, for example: The Male Skeleton / Back View of Female Figure Inclined to the Side and Lifting a Jar / Bent Arm with Fore-Arm Supine / Female Lower Limbs in the Act of Walking, with Left Leg Advanced / Muscles of the Face and Neck / etc.

Author and photographer Arthur Thomson was Professor of Human Anatomy at Oxford University, the Royal Academy Schools, and The Royal College of Art, London.

An early example of nude photography used in a book, the photographic reproductions of male and female nude models were printed by Horace Hart (printer to the university of Oxford) and were perceived as illustrations to the text rather than art works in themselves.

From the preface:

“In order to carry out such an idea it was necessary that the descriptions given should be supplemented by frequent reference to the model or by copious illustration. In the present work photography has been employed for this purpose. I am well aware of the drawbacks of such a method, yet it seems to me that these are counterbalanced by the truth of the resulting figures. The plates lay no claim to artistic excellence; their value depends on their fidelity to nature. Artists, I feel sure, will sympathize with me in regard to the defects of some of the forms represented, knowing as they do how difficult it is to obtain universal excellence in a model. Apart from the professional models employed, I am largely indebted to some of the better known athletes of this University for the facilities which have enabled me to take the photographs. For obvious reasons it is unnecessary for me to name these gentlemen, but I wish none the less to express my indebtedness to them.”
Arthur Thomson, 10th August 1896.

• Keywords: Anatomy · Art · Catalogue Four – International Art · drawing · Fine Art · Inanna Modern – Art Books · Painting · Sculpture
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 200021AB

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