Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy is a fascinating look at how the human anatomy has been recreated for both educational and artistic purposes. And the line separating them is pretty much nonexistent.

The essays in the book do a great job of giving a history, told from various perspectives, of illustrating the body. Beliefs in the usefulness through to just how artists were required to sketch immediately from observation rather than later from memory. The catalog is both visually stunning and each item is accompanied by a short description and contextualization.

I have read a couple books recently along these lines, the art of anatomical drawings and such, and I am always amazed at what was captured fairly accurately, as well as some of the more fantastical images as well. But the history surrounding this area of art/education touches on so many other historical events and people that I think most readers with an interest in either art history or history more generally will find a lot to enjoy here.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )