Portrait of Andreas Vesalius from 'De humani corporis fabrica libri septem'

An image of Andreas Vesalius showing his skill in dissecting a human arm. Considered the father of modern anatomy, Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) is a physician, anatomist and illustrator. He created his masterpiece, De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (On the fabric of the human body in seven books) at age 29, while he was professor of medicine at Padua, Italy.

Breaking tradition, Vesalius performed human dissections with his own hands, and carefully supervised the artists who recorded his works. Some illustrations throughout his tome are believed to have been drawn by Vesalius himself.

Apart from profoundly altering the course of anatomical and medical science, the De Humani Corporis Fabrica is also considered a masterpiece of Renaissance art and printing.

The Fabrica is considered one of the most important medical books ever published, and changed the way that anatomy was understood and taught.