Morbid Monday: Clemente Susini and his Anatomical Venus

by Annetta Black February 7, 2011

Anatomican Venus
Image: Wax Venus at La Specola Museum, Florence by Curious Expeditions

In the post-enlightenment era of resurrection men and mad anatomists, while the Northern countries focused their energies on mort-safes and fortified tombs, in Italy a sculptor turned his attention to creating an alternative to corpses, anatomy models captured eternally between life and death.

The unmistakably erotic forms of these “Anatomical Venuses” with their pert nipples and languid poses recline on soft pillows, their delicate fingers entangled in their long hair. They are delicate and lifelike wax models of young women, anatomically perfect down to their removable entrails.

Although there were several designers of these anatomy teaching tools, the most famous and beautiful specimens were created by the Florentine sculptor Clemente Susini between 1790 and 1805. His Venuses have delicate, classical features with partially open eyes, and they lie in poses reminiscent of the Renaissance sculptures of his home city. They look almost alive, almost soft. The effect is in equal parts unsettling and strangely comforting, particularly when contrasted to other models showing bodies flayed or decaying plague victims in greenish agony.

Several of Susini’s Venuses have miraculously survived the centuries in remarkably excellent condition.

If you would like to visit one of Susini’s Venuses, you can find them at:

La Specola Museum, Florence, Italy

Semmelweis Museum, Budapest, Hungary

Josephinium, Vienna, Austria

Other Anatomical Venuses are at Cagliari’s Wax Anatomy Museum and the Museo di Palazzo Poggi in Bologna

More about anatomical Venuses and medical models:

Wombs, Waxes and Wonder Cabinets - Bioephemera Blog

Aphrodites of the Operating Theatre - Boing Boing

Brought to Life - Florence Science Museum

Exquisite Bodies - The Wellcome Collection

Wax Anatomical Models at the Josephinum Museum - Curious Expeditions