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This book contains all of Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings on the heart and its physiology, accompanied by re-translations of all of the associated notes. All Leonardo's drawings have been interpreted in the light of modern knowledge by a practicing cardiac clinician and anatomist. The veracity of his work is proven against contemporary dissections of cardiac structure and comparison of his illustrations with contemporary images generated by Magnetic Resonance scanners and high definition ultrasound will astound the reader. Perhaps the most interesting element is the re-dissection of the Ox heart set against Leonardo's own drawings. His place in the greater scheme of anatomical development will be put into context with his ideas of man's place in the microcosm/macrocosm continuum.
List of contents
Foreword by HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales.- Foreword by Martin Kemp.- Preface.- Acknowledgements.- Introduction.- The Making of a Master: Leonardo, His Life and Times.- Leonardo, Anatomist or Natural Philosopher?.- Leonardo's Use of Drawing.- Leonardo Da Vinci Drawings.- Leonardo's Heart.- Leonardo: A Personal Legacy.- Leonardo Scholarship and the Cataloguing of the Anatomical Manuscripts.- Bibliography.
About the author
Mr Francis Wells is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, the United Kingdom's largest specialist cardio-thoracic hospital and most reputable cardiac centres.
Mr Wells is a recognized world leader in the field of mitral and tricuspid valve surgery. He has the largest experience in mitral valve reconstruction in the UK and amongst the largest in the world, with over 3,000 cases completed. He achieves a near 100% repair rate for fixing leaking mitral valves with mortality at less than 1.0% for first time procedures. His aim is to achieve a normally functioning valve.
He is also an accomplished artist with a specific interest in Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawings of the heart.
Summary
This book contains all of Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings on the heart and its physiology, accompanied by re-translations of all of the associated notes. All Leonardo's drawings have been interpreted in the light of modern knowledge by a practicing cardiac clinician and anatomist. The veracity of his work is proven against contemporary dissections of cardiac structure and comparison of his illustrations with contemporary images generated by Magnetic Resonance scanners and high definition ultrasound will astound the reader. Perhaps the most interesting element is the re-dissection of the Ox heart set against Leonardo’s own drawings. His place in the greater scheme of anatomical development will be put into context with his ideas of man’s place in the microcosm/macrocosm continuum.
Additional text
From the book reviews:
Selected as “Highly Commended” at BMA Medical Book Awards for 2014.
“It will be of interest to many others and I hope it reaches the audience it deserves. This is a lovely book. Those few who are specifically interested in Leonardo’s work on the heart will find much of value and I hope it is read by artists, art historians and surgeons, who will fine … that the encounter with Leonardo’s work is intellectually stimulating.” (BMA Medical Book Awards, September, 2014)
Report
From the book reviews:
Selected as "Highly Commended" at BMA Medical Book Awards for 2014.
"It will be of interest to many others and I hope it reaches the audience it deserves. This is a lovely book. Those few who are specifically interested in Leonardo's work on the heart will find much of value and I hope it is read by artists, art historians and surgeons, who will fine ... that the encounter with Leonardo's work is intellectually stimulating." (BMA Medical Book Awards, September, 2014)
