Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index



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  • Title: Diagram of a pregnant woman, with fetus and diseases
  • Creator:
  • Description: This diagram was part of the Fasciculus Medicinae, which was a compilation of texts that expounded and illustrated a variety of medical topics. The images of the male body in this book are mostly surfaces; they were used to illustrate subjects such as bloodletting, the association of the zodiac with various body parts, and the ways to treat wounds. By contrast, the images of women in this book are primarily concerned with showing the inside of the female body, especially the shape and function of the uterus. This diagram depicts the opened body and reproductive system of a pregnant woman. Covering the woman’s body are Latin labels describing various diseases and what body parts those diseases can affect. The part of a woman’s body most vulnerable to contracting diseases appears to be her mind. This diagram also shows a stylized illustration of the pregnant womb, which is located underneath multiple misshapen figures meant to represent organs, such as the heart, stomach, and intestines. In the womb, a fetus with hands over his eyes and a visible belly button is depicted. This image is from a 1924 facsimile version of the first printed edition done by Giovanni and Gregorio dei Gregorii in 1491 in Venice. The name Johannes de Ketham has traditionally been associated with the Fasciculus, but he is not the author of any of the texts. Some scholars have identified him with Johannes von Kirchheim, a physician in Vienna, who may have used the texts in his teaching.
  • Source: Wellcome Library, London
  • Rights: Wellcome Library, London
  • Subject (See Also): Anatomy Diseases Gynecology Medicine Pregnancy
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 15
  • Date: 1491, 1924
  • Related Work: Medical Compilation (Fasciculus medicinae): Medical Compilation (Fasciculus medicinae):
  • Current Location: London, Wellcome Library, L0000272
  • Original Location: Venice, Italy
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital Images; Prints
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Woodcuts
  • Donor:
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): //
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources: Katharine Park, Secrets of Women: Gender, Generation, and the Origins of Human Dissection. Zone Books, 2006, pp. 27, 31, 108-109.