Renaissance Gallery

Skull anatomy by Leonardo da Vinci

Skull anatomy by Leonardo da Vinci. Historical artwork and notes on the anatomy of the human skull and teeth, by the Italian artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). This bisected skull shows the external structure (right), and dissected facial sinuses (left), the air-filled spaces inside the bones of the face. The diagram at lower left shows the teeth present in one half of the mouth: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 pre-molars, and 6 molars. Da Vinci was the first anatomist known to have correctly noted the number and root structure of human teeth. The notes are an example of his mirror writing, which was written backwards from right to left, and could be read in a mirror

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

17th century world map

World map, published around 1664 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by Dutch mapmaker Joan Blaeu (c.1599- 1673). The Latin title is Nova et Accuratissima Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula (new and accurate all world map). Blaeu's maps built on those made by Mercator and Hondius in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The Blaeu maps emphasized fine art and colours, being the most expensive of the time. Two mapmakers are shown at upper right and upper left, together with a wide variety of mythical beings. The poorly-mapped regions include the far north and south, parts of the Americas (left-hand hemisphere), and the Far East. The western coast of Australia (New Holland) was discovered in 1616

© LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, GEOGRAPHY AND MAP DIVISION/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Durers world map, 1515

Durer's world map, 1515. Albrecht Durer (1471- 1528) was a German artist. His skillful use of perspective and mathematical proportions made him one of the outstanding artistic figures of the early 16th century. This world map is based on Ptolemy's map plus extensions from Behaim's Globe of 1492. It is the first known perspective drawing of the entire Earth as a sphere, and was published in 1515, using the best maps of the time in collaboration with Nuremberg astronomer Johann Stabius. The map shows the world surrounded by 12 wind gods. Taken from Dr Willi Kurth's The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Durer (1936)

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY