This is the Fifth plate from Leonard Baskin’s Ars Anatomica, a portfolio of thirteen prints commissioned by Editions Medicina Rara, Ltd., of New York.

This work is a lithographic transfer from pen & ink drawings.  It was printed at The Curwen Press in London on paper specially-made by hand for the project by E. Towgood & Sons of Sawston, Cambridgeshire and bearing the private watermark of Medicina Rara. This portfolio is widely considered to be the first anatomical portfolio by an artist of renown.

These works reflect the best of anatomical illustrations, which though designed for learning and reference were treasured for their beauty, scholarly import, and artistic merit. As written in the colophon of the Fabrica of Vesalius, made in 1543, “Some of these images seem even hundreds of years later to make a profound statement about man through the portrayal of his physicality.”

Plainly, these works by Baskin were unconcerned with scientific accuracy. Physiognomy has always played a central role in most of Baskin’s work. So, too, was Baskin always fascinated by medical illustration. This work, then, unites those loves, celebrating humankind’s creative spirit and the human spirit which prevails even when sometimes the body fails.

Baskin was distressed at the state of the art world when he made the drawings which were published in this portfolio. He said, “The art of our time is an act of cowardice, a triumph of the trivial, a squandering of treasure.” In Baskin’s view, art was meant to be a means whereby “man must rediscover man, harried and brutalized, distended and eviscerated, but noble withal, rich in intention, puissant in creative spur, and enduring in the posture of love.

As for the COA: I own the entire Double Suite, I will be including a copy of the original Introductory piece that is signed by Baskin--as well as the "story, details, description" which was written by John E. Marqusee. These will be printed copies of the original.

******THIS WILL BE SHIPPED FLAT******

Details:

Medium:
Lithograph in black ink.
Paper:
Printed on hand-made paper specially-made for this portfolio by E. Towgood & Sons of Sawston, Cabridgeshire and bearing the private watermark of Medicina Rara.
Publisher:
Medicina Rara, Ltd.
Printer:
The Curwen Press, London
Date:
Plates made by Baskin in 1970 and prints published in 1972.
Signature:
Signed and dated in the plate, en recto lower right.
Edition:
The lithograph, unnumbered, is from Portfolio Number 133 out of the edition of 300 Double Suites.  Twenty-eight hundred portfolios were printed for members of Editions Medicina Rara, Ltd. at The Curwen Press Ltd., London, England.

Condition:

Excellent condition, without damage or flaw---Excellent condition, without damage or flaw---this has always been kept in the protective case it was issued in.


Sheet Size:
15.25 in. (w) x 22.5 in. (h) 


PLEASE REFER TO ALL PHOTOS FOR A BETTER VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM