Rare Victorian-Era Drawing of a Black Man's Body to Be Displayed for the First Time
A rare drawing of an unnamed black man's body, drawn with precision and care during the Victorian era, is set to be displayed at a new exhibition that delves into the work of Joseph Maclise, a surgeon and artist who broke new ground by centering black bodies and focusing on queer desire.
The image, which features the black man lying on his back with his innards exposed, is part of Maclise's 1851 atlas Surgical Anatomy. However, unlike other editions of the book, this specific image was omitted when it was published in the US due to racial prejudice and segregationist attitudes in the lead-up to the American Civil War.
Maclise's work was groundbreaking for its time, as he used living models from the streets of London and Paris to create his drawings. He combined their figures with dissections of corpses taken from the morgues of the French capital, resulting in intricate and delicate illustrations that were both anatomically accurate and aesthetically pleasing.
One of the most striking aspects of Maclise's work is its focus on small details that other artists might have overlooked. He drew scars, blemishes, and even ear piercings, imbuing his subjects with a sense of humanity and individuality. His drawings were also notable for their frank depiction of the human body, including genitalia, which was unusual for the time.
Some art historians believe that Maclise's work may have been part of a "lost archive of queer expression", alongside the work of artists such as Jacques Fabien Gautier d'Agoty and William Cheselden. While there is no concrete evidence to confirm Maclise's own sexuality, his drawings do suggest a level of sensuality and attention to detail that was rare for men at the time.
The exhibition, titled Beneath the Sheets: Anatomy, Art and Power, will run from February 7th to June 27th at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. In addition to Maclise's work, the show will feature other anatomical drawings and images, including those by Charles Estienne and Andreas Vesalius.
Mary Paterson, a victim of Burke and Hare, the notorious serial killers in Scottish history, is also featured in the exhibition. Her body was sold for medical study after her death, raising questions about class, violence, and the male gaze.
The exhibition provides a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of anatomy, art, and power during the Victorian era. By showcasing Maclise's groundbreaking work, the show highlights the importance of considering diverse perspectives in the history of medicine and art.
A rare drawing of an unnamed black man's body, drawn with precision and care during the Victorian era, is set to be displayed at a new exhibition that delves into the work of Joseph Maclise, a surgeon and artist who broke new ground by centering black bodies and focusing on queer desire.
The image, which features the black man lying on his back with his innards exposed, is part of Maclise's 1851 atlas Surgical Anatomy. However, unlike other editions of the book, this specific image was omitted when it was published in the US due to racial prejudice and segregationist attitudes in the lead-up to the American Civil War.
Maclise's work was groundbreaking for its time, as he used living models from the streets of London and Paris to create his drawings. He combined their figures with dissections of corpses taken from the morgues of the French capital, resulting in intricate and delicate illustrations that were both anatomically accurate and aesthetically pleasing.
One of the most striking aspects of Maclise's work is its focus on small details that other artists might have overlooked. He drew scars, blemishes, and even ear piercings, imbuing his subjects with a sense of humanity and individuality. His drawings were also notable for their frank depiction of the human body, including genitalia, which was unusual for the time.
Some art historians believe that Maclise's work may have been part of a "lost archive of queer expression", alongside the work of artists such as Jacques Fabien Gautier d'Agoty and William Cheselden. While there is no concrete evidence to confirm Maclise's own sexuality, his drawings do suggest a level of sensuality and attention to detail that was rare for men at the time.
The exhibition, titled Beneath the Sheets: Anatomy, Art and Power, will run from February 7th to June 27th at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. In addition to Maclise's work, the show will feature other anatomical drawings and images, including those by Charles Estienne and Andreas Vesalius.
Mary Paterson, a victim of Burke and Hare, the notorious serial killers in Scottish history, is also featured in the exhibition. Her body was sold for medical study after her death, raising questions about class, violence, and the male gaze.
The exhibition provides a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of anatomy, art, and power during the Victorian era. By showcasing Maclise's groundbreaking work, the show highlights the importance of considering diverse perspectives in the history of medicine and art.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." 
. It's wild to think that it was omitted from a publication due to racial prejudice back then 
. Joseph Maclise was literally ahead of his time with his focus on queer desire and detailed illustrations 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that he drew scars, blemishes, and ear piercings? 
It's like he wanted to humanize these figures instead of just drawing pretty faces 
.
. If it is, that would be a major discovery! 
.
. It raises so many questions about class, violence, and the male gaze 
this is so sick, finally showing some real history about black ppl in med art 
class & power issues right there
I mean, its pretty cool that someone finally decided to showcase it tho. Its amazing to see how ahead of his time Joseph Maclise was like drawing scars and ear piercings & all that jazz 
! And theres even talk of him being part of a "lost archive of queer expression" 
I mean, thats wild considering the time period. The exhibition is gonna be so interesting to see how its all put together
and it's so cool that he drew all these tiny details like scars and piercings - gives me major feels 
Feb 7th - June 27th is gonna fly by!!!
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! it's wild to think about how different things would've been if maclise had gotten to share his work in the US back then. i love how he didn't just focus on the 'important' parts of the body, but also included all these tiny details that make people look more human. and can we talk about how groundbreaking it is that he was doing this during a time when it was super rare for men to be so open about their curiosity? 
I mean, can you imagine not seeing something like this before? It's like, a whole new world of art and history opens up 
He was all about precision and accuracy, but also adding those small details that make his subjects feel human 
And the fact that they're featuring Mary Paterson, who was sold for medical study after her death... that's just heartbreaking 
it just goes to show how far we've come but also how much work is left to do especially when it comes to representation in museums and art history 
. But at the same time, it's amazing that Maclise was willing to go against the norm and create something so beautiful and detailed. I love how he drew scars and blemishes - it's like he wanted to humanize his subjects 
. The fact that some art historians think this might be part of a "lost archive of queer expression" is just mind-blowing 
. It's so important for us to learn from the past and celebrate our diverse histories.
. Bring on that exhibit! 
. And don't even get me started on the whole "lost archive of queer expression" thing 
. The fact is, this exhibition is just a bunch of stuff being dusted off the shelf because it's trendy again 
. Give me something with actual practical applications or innovation over old relics any day 
anyway, can't wait to see more of his work in person 
. The fact that it was omitted from the US edition due to racism is wild