A Private Anatomical Atlas?

The recently rediscovered volumes of myological illustrations by artist Martin Sagemolen after preparations by the anatomist Johannes van Horne enjoyed something of a reputation directly after they were made. Visitors to Van Horne’s private quarters, who saw the drawings were impressed by the quality of the work. Later Herman Boerhaave acquired the manuscript for his library and at the auction of Boerhaave’s belongings after his death it was among the highest priced items, valued at 390 guilders. The rediscovery of this early modern anatomical project in the collection of the BIUSanté enables us to put forward various questions. The questions I will concern myself with in this study have to do with the function of the manuscript in the professional activities of Johannes van Horne, and with the intentions with which both the artist and the scientist undertook this project. Johannes van Horne can be counted among the more progressive medical scientists of the later 17th century. As a student at Leiden and Utrecht successively he was associated with Johannes Walaeus - one of the earliest defenders of Harvey’s theory in the Dutch Republic - and with Johannes Regius, an early follower of Descartes at Utrecht University. As a professor of anatomy in Leiden Van Horne belonged to the progressive faction at the medical faculty, together with his more famous colleague Franciscus Sylvius. Van Horne’s (small) output can be divided into didactic works, a manual on anatomy and a manual on surgery, and experimental projects: a study on the chylous duct and a study on the female reproductive organs. The latter in co-operation with his brilliant student Johannes Swammerdam. Both qualities - the didactic and the experimental - we can find in his private scientific collection, which contained anatomical preparations, anatomical models - and an anatomical atlas. Van Horne’s collection functioned as an asset for his privatissima. These private lectures were a way for a professor to make money on top of his usual wages, as students had to pay a fee to attend. For the students these private lectures and - demonstrations were essential to get in touch with the particular insights and originality of their professors. I argue that the anatomical illustrations made by Sagemolen for Van Horne must be seen in this context. Van Horne used them in his privatissima and probably had no intention of publishing them, although the artist Sagemolen may have had other plans. Specifically the use of colour in the illustrations - a conspicuous feature - made them very suitable as didactic material, but at the same time makes it improbable that they were immediately intended to be published in printed form.