Antique Print-SKULL-BREGMA-SUTURA-De Lairesse-Cowper-Bidloo-1739

Plate 90: This anatomy plate shows a part of the human skull with the Bregma, Sutura coronalis, Sutura sagittalis etc.

Made by G. de Lairesse after W. Cowper.

Medium: Etching / engraving. on hand laid (verge) paper.

Sheet size: 32.6 x 48.9 cm (12.83 x 19.25 inch). Image size: 28.5 x 45 cm. (11.22 x 17.72 inch).

Condition: good, given age. Some scattered faint spots. . General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

SKULL-BREGMA-SUTURA | DPO-PCO-B1-09

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This scarse large original antique medical/anatomy print originates from: ‘Anatomia Corporum Humanorum’ by William Cowper, 1739, latin ed. The major source of this work was the Dutch anotomist Goverd Bidloo and his landmark work titled: ‘Anatomia Humani Corporis’ (1685). What started as an English translation of Bidloo’s work first published in 1698 ended in a court fought battle over plagiatism by Cowper. Cowper did not even mention Bidloo in his work. The famous plates in this work (by Gerard de Lairesse) are identical to the ones from Bidloo’s work and actually even bought from Bidloo. Cowper added some of his own new plates. The plates are particularly valued for their artistic quality.

Biography engraver: Gerard or Gerard de Lairesse (1640 or 1641 ? 1711) was a very talented Dutch Golden Age painter and art theorist. Govert Bidloo or Govard Bidloo (1649 ? 1713) was a Dutch Golden Age physician, anatomist, poet and playwright. He was the personal physician of William III of Orange-Nassau, Dutch stadholder and king of England.