A rare drawing of a black man has been unveiled as part of a new exhibition at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. The image, which is believed to be the only anatomical drawing of a black body made during the Victorian era, shows an unnamed black man with his eyes closed and his innards exposed.
The drawing is one of over 200 works on display in the 'Beneath the Sheets: Anatomy, Art and Power' exhibition, which explores the intersection of anatomy, art, and power. The show features drawings by Joseph Maclise, a surgeon and artist who made significant contributions to the field of human anatomy during the 19th century.
Maclise's work was groundbreaking for its time, as he drew attention to the importance of representing all bodies in his anatomical drawings, including those of people from diverse backgrounds. The exhibition also features works by other notable artists, such as Jacques Fabien Gautier d'Agoty and Andreas Vesalius, who made significant contributions to the field of anatomy.
The inclusion of Maclise's drawing highlights the museum's commitment to showcasing the work of underrepresented individuals in the history of anatomy. As curator Jack Gann notes, "He drew little scars or blemishes... He lavished attention on the body far beyond the bits that the anatomist needed to show." This level of detail and sensitivity suggests that Maclise was not only a skilled artist but also an advocate for greater representation in medical art.
The exhibition also explores themes of queer desire, as some researchers have speculated about Maclise's possible sexuality based on his drawings. However, Gann emphasizes the importance of looking at the images themselves rather than making assumptions. The inclusion of works by other artists who represented marginalized communities, including female bodies and the case of Mary Paterson whose body was sold for medical study after she was a victim of Burke and Hare, adds another layer to the exhibition.
The 'Beneath the Sheets' exhibition runs from February 7th until June 27th at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds.
The drawing is one of over 200 works on display in the 'Beneath the Sheets: Anatomy, Art and Power' exhibition, which explores the intersection of anatomy, art, and power. The show features drawings by Joseph Maclise, a surgeon and artist who made significant contributions to the field of human anatomy during the 19th century.
Maclise's work was groundbreaking for its time, as he drew attention to the importance of representing all bodies in his anatomical drawings, including those of people from diverse backgrounds. The exhibition also features works by other notable artists, such as Jacques Fabien Gautier d'Agoty and Andreas Vesalius, who made significant contributions to the field of anatomy.
The inclusion of Maclise's drawing highlights the museum's commitment to showcasing the work of underrepresented individuals in the history of anatomy. As curator Jack Gann notes, "He drew little scars or blemishes... He lavished attention on the body far beyond the bits that the anatomist needed to show." This level of detail and sensitivity suggests that Maclise was not only a skilled artist but also an advocate for greater representation in medical art.
The exhibition also explores themes of queer desire, as some researchers have speculated about Maclise's possible sexuality based on his drawings. However, Gann emphasizes the importance of looking at the images themselves rather than making assumptions. The inclusion of works by other artists who represented marginalized communities, including female bodies and the case of Mary Paterson whose body was sold for medical study after she was a victim of Burke and Hare, adds another layer to the exhibition.
The 'Beneath the Sheets' exhibition runs from February 7th until June 27th at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds.
I'm low-key hyped for this new exhibit at the Thackray Museum, but also kinda bummed that it's only up for a few months... I mean, who wouldn't want to see more of Joseph Maclise's incredible work?! 
He was literally one of the first artists to prioritize drawing diverse bodies in his anatomy studies – talk about trailblazing! 
And can you believe this drawing is believed to be the only one from the Victorian era that shows a black body? It's wild to think about how much history has been lost or erased, but it's also amazing to see it being brought back to life. 
The fact that Maclise was an advocate for greater representation in medical art is just, like, totally inspiring...
I think its amazing that this drawing is finally being showcased! Its crazy to think that during Maclise's time, people of color were literally left out of medical art... 
. I mean, can you imagine how rare and valuable such an artifact would be? It's awesome that Joseph Maclise was ahead of his time in terms of representation, you feel? He's like a modern-day social justice warrior... not! 
Anyway, it's great to see more artwork from underrepresented groups being highlighted. The fact that the museum is exploring themes of queer desire and marginalized communities adds an extra layer of depth to the exhibit. It's gonna be so interesting to learn about Maclise's work and how he approached art in a way that was both anatomically accurate and sensitive to his subjects' humanity 
It's interesting that curator Jack Gann emphasizes looking at the images themselves rather than making assumptions. You can tell he's passionate about getting the story straight.
. Now I can look at it with a fresh eye and really appreciate the significance of it all.
it's not like they're mutually exclusive or anything.
. This drawing's got some history behind it, you know? It's not just some random guy's body on a wall. He was a surgeon and an artist, which is pretty cool in itself. But what really gets me is that he made sure to include all kinds of people in his drawings, like women and... well, people of color back then 
. I mean, it's about time we started seein' more diversity in art museums, right? 
He wasn't afraid to expose all bodies, even black ones, during Victorian times 
racism wasn't cool back then 
. It's lit! 
. and to have his work up there alongside others who weren't afraid to represent the weird & wonderful 
it's called "Beneath the Sheets" and it runs till june. go!