Nerves of the Hip and Lower Limb, Antique Hirschfeld Anatomy Print, 1866

This antique Hirschfeld anatomy print of the nerves of the hip and lower limb is Plate 56 from Hirschfeld and Leveille's Nevrologie atlas, an original hand-colored lithograph published in Paris by G. Masson in 1866. The main figure is a deep dissection of the hip and upper thigh with part of the pelvic bone cut away, a large artery descending through the region and nerve branches spreading into the muscles. Beside it is a whole lower limb from knee to foot in lateral view, showing the superficial veins and cutaneous nerves.

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, and the sheet was printed by Lemercier of the rue de Seine. The technique is lithography, and the coloring is original hand color.

Leveille's plates are among the most admired anatomical illustrations of the nineteenth century. They are exact enough to teach from, yet drawn with a restraint that keeps them beautiful rather than merely clinical, and a Hirschfeld anatomy print of this kind will interest collectors of scientific illustration and the history of medicine. This hand-colored lithograph would suit the consulting room of a physician, physiotherapist or orthopaedic surgeon, a study or a library, and it works well hung in a series with other nerve plates from the same atlas.

Condition is good. The sheet shows light age toning, scattered foxing and marginal marks. There is noticeable staining and surface soiling along the lower edge, with slight wear to the right edge. The toning is ordinary for paper of this age. Please review the images for further condition details.

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