EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE TO VISIT IN THE WIDER WORLD OF HISTORY
ANATOMICAL MUSEUM COLLECTION, UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, AMSTERDAM MUSEUM, ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST/ HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II, ITV PICTUREDESK, PETER BLENKHARN, JENNIE BOND, FAVERSHAM TOWN COUNCIL
An 18th-century depiction of an anatomy lesson, painted by Dutch artist Cornelis Troost, is one of many artworks set to appear in the National Museum of Scotland’s upcoming exhibition
EXHIBITION
Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life PAID ENTRY
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, 2 July – 30 October, nms.ac.uk
The gruesome, yet scientifically important, practice of dissecting human bodies is the subject of a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland this July. Spanning more than 500 years of history, the display will examine the work of anatomists down the ages, as well as the ethical considerations of dealing with human remains. Alongside anatomical sketches by Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci, there will be a local focus, too, with the story of Edinburgh murderers William Burke
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and William Hare also explored in the display. Not only can visitors discover the story behind the duo’s killings – motivated by a desire to sell fresh ‘specimens’ to the anatomist Robert Knox – but there will also be the chance to see the skeleton of Burke himself, who was dissected after his execution in 1829. Other highlights include an iron mortsafe designed to prevent grave robberies, plus a series of mysterious miniature coffins discovered on Arthur’s Seat nearly 200 years ago.
ABOVE: A sketch by Leonardo da Vinci, showing the veins and muscles of the human arm LEFT: The skull of Edinburgh serial killer William Burke, who was publicly dissected after his execution in 1829
