The anatomy class at the École des Beaux Arts

The principal figure is Mathias Duval a leading medical scientist who also taught anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Duval specialized in anatomy and physiology, but was also involved in anthropology and histology (the study of cells) among other things. He taught his art students from bones and dissections, but also liked to use a live model to demonstrate the effect of the internal structure of the body on its outward appearance.