Pathology and Visual Culture

“A fascinating and important book that contributes to the histories of art and science, as well as to the medical humanities. Ruiz-Gómez’s deeply researched book uncovers a wealth of forgotten information and imagery.”—Andrew Graciano, Social History of Medicine

“This is a fascinating and stimulating analysis of several focused aspects of some scientific artworks of the Salpêtrière School that raises many intriguing questions and areas for futher exploration, discussion, and debate.”—Douglas J. Lanska, Journal of the History of the Neurosciences

“Ruiz-Gómez presents a commendable study, situated within the fields of art history and visual culture, on how the scientific artworks trouble the binary between science and art, objectivity and aesthetic, and forwards an interpretation of the artworks that considers how the clinician and/or artist negotiated an interest in pursuing both ‘medical objectivity and artistry.’”—Rory du Plessis, Image & Text

“A seminal and groundbreaking study that is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, medical school, and college/university library History of Medicine collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists—as those with an interest in French medical history and human figure art.”—Paul T. Vogel, Midwest Book Review

“Pathology and Visual Culture is the first study to deeply engage with the range of visual productions of the Salpêtrière School. This welcome book brings much overdue attention to material hardly or not at all mentioned by the many scholars–art historians, visual culture specialists, and historians of science and medicine–who have concentrated on the painted and photographic representations of hysteria directed by Charcot.”—Allison Morehead, author of Nature’s Experiments and the Search for Symbolist Form

Natasha Ruiz-Gómez is Senior Lecturer in Art History in the School of Philosophical, Historical, and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex.

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Clinicians and Artists

1. Curating Pathology at the Musée Charcot

2. The Art of Retouching at the Salpêtrière

3. The Ataxic Venus: Between Portrait and Specimen

4. Paul Richer, Sculpting Pathology

Coda: The Salpêtrière at the École des Beaux- Arts

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Download a PDF sample chapter here: Introduction

Art History & Architecture

           European

           Nineteenth-century

History

           European

           Nineteenth-century