LEONARDO DA VINCI (VINCI 1452-AMBOISE 1519)
The major organs and vessels
c.1485-90RCIN 912597
Leonardo wished to understand the structure of the body, and thereby enhance the ‘lifelikeness’ of his paintings. In time he dissected 30 corpses, intending to compile an illustrated treatise on anatomy. He made this drawing before he had carried out any human dissection, as a summary of traditional beliefs about the relationship between the heart, liver, veins and arteries.