Caricature as the record of medical history in eighteenth-century London
Abstract
This thesis examines two disparate developments that began in sixteenth-century
Renaissance Italy and converged in almost inconceivable ways in eighteenth-century
London. One of these developments was the public study of human anatomy through
dissection. The other development was the satirical art of caricature. This thesis explores
the point in time where the study of anatomy and the art of caricature converge by
examining eighteenth-century texts as well as contemporary scholarly writing on the
subjects of medicine, anatomy and caricature. This thesis argues that caricature was the
medium best suited to visually record this unusual time in medical history and to expose
the social responses to these medical advances. In order to narrow the scope of the two broad topics of art and medicine, this
thesis looks at two of London's most notable Georgian era anatomists, Dr. William
Hunter and his brother John, a surgeon. It examines how they, and anatomists in general,
were depicted by their contemporaries and acquaintances, Thomas Rowlandson and
William Hogarth. This thesis explores the clandestine activities involved in running an anatomy school in Georgian England by examining the written record as well as the
visual record found in the prints of Hogarth and Rowlandson. This thesis briefly
examines the religious and legal ramifications of the procurement of bodies for
dissection.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- Depictions of anatomy -- A necessary inhumanity -- The anatomy school -- The bone collector -- Conclusion -- Illustrations
Degree
M.A. (Master of Arts)
Thesis Department
Rights
Open Access (fully available)
Copyright retained by author