Pelvic Anatomy Studies, Diderot Hermaphrodites Supplement Plate 3, circa 1778

An original antique copper engraving, uncolored, with four numbered anatomical figures and two outline keys. Figs. 9 and 10 are shaded studies of external genitalia, seen from the front and from the side, and to their left are two matching outline drawings lettered a to i, which key the parts. Fig. 11 shows the pelvis and upper thighs cut through, with the abdominal wall folded back to expose the intestines and the external genitalia below, lettered A to D. Fig. 12 is a similar view with the thighs cut through and the abdominal wall folded back but closed over, showing the external genitalia lettered A to H. The studies are drawn in a clinical, descriptive manner, with fine stipple and cross hatching.

The plate number "Suppl. Pl. 3." is lettered at the top right, the section "Histoire Naturelle, Hermaphrodites." below the border, and the page number "143." at the lower left. No engraver's mark is lettered at the lower right.

The Encyclopédie of Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert was accompanied by volumes of engraved plates, the Recueil de planches. In the Livorno edition published by Giuseppe Aubert the main plate volumes appeared between 1771 and 1778, followed by a supplement volume of plates in 1778 to 1779. This plate comes from that supplement and belongs to its natural history plates on hermaphrodites, not to the Chirurgie section; its figures are keyed by letter to an explanation printed in the text volume.

A specialist sheet for a collection of medical history or the history of anatomy.

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