B171562

System control number

7252

Shelfmark

16.1 GRA

Author

Gray, H.

Title

Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical [Gray's Anatomy]

Edition

2nd rev. & enl.

Publication, distribution, etc.

London: J.W. Parker & Son., 1860

Physical description

xxxii, 784, 24 cm

Biographical or historical data

On its release in 1858, Anatomy: Descriptive and Surgical by Henry Gray was an instant success. The British Medical Journal called it “a book which must take its place as THE manual of anatomy.” And so it did. Gray himself died young shortly after the publication of the 1860 second edition, but his name lives on, synonymous with the idea of an anatomy textbook. Never out of print, Gray’s Anatomy is today on its 42nd revised edition.

For many, Gray’s Anatomy’s clean, clinical aesthetic represents anatomical illustration sundered from fine art, now purely unimaginative medical instruction. But it has been as treasured by young artists as medical students. From the vivid neo-expressionist paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat to the soapish TV drama of its near-namesake, the imaginative legacy of Gray’s Anatomy is easy to see.

Gray wrote in the preface to his Anatomy that he aimed to “furnish the student and practitioner with an accurate view of the anatomy of the human body”. The book achieved this by being more accessible to students not just in language and style, but also its comparatively portable size and affordable price.

The informative clarity of Henry Vandyke Carter’s illustrations were integral to Gray’s Anatomy’s success, but Gray edited the book’s proofs to downgrade Carter’s credit on the title page. When considering the matter in his diary, Carter simply wrote: “jealous p’raps”.

Subject

ANATOMY REFERENCE DICTIONARY (Categories)

001B171562

003UKLeTMM

00520260623155806.7

035##$a7252

096##$a16.1 GRA

100##$aGray, H.

245##$aAnatomy, Descriptive and Surgical [Gray's Anatomy]

250##$a2nd rev. & enl.

260##$bLondon: J.W. Parker & Son.$c1860

300##$axxxii, 784$c24 cm

545##$aOn its release in 1858, Anatomy: Descriptive and Surgical by Henry Gray was an instant success. The British Medical Journal called it “a book which must take its place as THE manual of anatomy.” And so it did. Gray himself died young shortly after the publication of the 1860 second edition, but his name lives on, synonymous with the idea of an anatomy textbook. Never out of print, Gray’s Anatomy is today on its 42nd revised edition. For many, Gray’s Anatomy’s clean, clinical aesthetic represents anatomical illustration sundered from fine art, now purely unimaginative medical instruction. But it has been as treasured by young artists as medical students. From the vivid neo-expressionist paintings of Jean-Michel Basquiat to the soapish TV drama of its near-namesake, the imaginative legacy of Gray’s Anatomy is easy to see. Gray wrote in the preface to his Anatomy that he aimed to “furnish the student and practitioner with an accurate view of the anatomy of the human body”. The book achieved this by being more accessible to students not just in language and style, but also its comparatively portable size and affordable price. The informative clarity of Henry Vandyke Carter’s illustrations were integral to Gray’s Anatomy’s success, but Gray edited the book’s proofs to downgrade Carter’s credit on the title page. When considering the matter in his diary, Carter simply wrote: “jealous p’raps”.

584##$a

650#4$aANATOMY REFERENCE DICTIONARY