Teaching watercolor of aneurysm in arm, after Charles Bell's Practical Essays, 1848-1854
Description:
Teaching watercolor of three images of the arm. First image shows right arm from fingertip to upper arm with grey fabric pushed back around top of arm and shoulder. Arm shows varicose aneurysm. Second image shows arm in same position but with skin surgically opened revealing the ulnar division of the humeral artery, the radial division of the humeral artery, and the median basilic vein, greatly dilated. Two black strings are tied around ulnar and radial divisions of the humeral artery. Third image shows the vessels of the arm removed to display the radial branch of the artery, the sac of the aneurysm, and the median basilic vein. Watercolor is framed in green sewn textile, with metal grommets in each of the four corners.
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Notes:
Henry Jacob Bigelow employed artist Oscar Wallis exclusively from 1848 - 1854 to paint a series of large teaching watercolors to illustrate Bigelow's lectures at Harvard Medical School. Wallis painted the teaching diagrams from local subjects and from the atlases of established medical authorities. The effort cost Bigelow $6,000. In 1890 Bigelow presented the watercolors to Reginald H. Fitz to be used in the Harvard Medical School's Department of Anatomy. The watercolors were transferred into the Warren Anatomical Museum between 1890 and 1930.
