Cutaneous Nerves of the Arm and Hand, Antique Hirschfeld Anatomy Print, 1866

This antique anatomy print of the cutaneous nerves of the arm and hand is an original 1866 hand colored lithograph from Hirschfeld and Leveille's Nevrologie atlas, published in Paris by G. Masson. It is plate 45 in the atlas. The plate gathers superficial dissections of the upper limb: the arm with the skin removed showing the subcutaneous veins and cutaneous nerves, the forearm and palm with the superficial veins, the palmar aponeurosis and the digital nerves running to the fingers, and a small detail of a finger tip in section.

The plate comes from the atlas to Ludovic Hirschfeld's Nevrologie et Esthesiologie, the second edition of his treatise and iconography of the human nervous system and the organs of sense, published in Paris by G. Masson in 1866. Every figure was drawn from life by J. B. Leveille directly from Hirschfeld's own dissections, printed as a lithograph by Lemercier of the rue de Seine, and colored by hand. Leveille's plates are among the most admired anatomical illustrations of the nineteenth century, exact enough to teach from and drawn with a restraint that keeps them beautiful rather than merely clinical.

This hand colored lithograph will appeal to collectors of the history of medicine and to anyone drawn to the meeting of art and science. Displayed on its own or alongside other plates from the Hirschfeld atlas, it suits a study, a library, a surgery or a thoughtfully furnished home.

This plate is in good condition for its age, with light age toning, scattered foxing and minor marks. The sheet also shows a gray surface mark in the lower margin, with slight edge wear and faint handling creases. The toning is consistent with age, and the images show further condition details.

This is an original antique plate, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.