“Non più uomini di cera, ma vivissimi” : la transizione tra arte e scienza, techne e physis, pratica e innovazione nei modelli in cera quattrocenteschi da Verrocchio a Leonardo

“No longer men of wax, but full of life:” the transition between Art and Science, Techne and Physis, Practice and Innovation in the 15th-century wax models from Verrocchio to Leonardo.” In the 15th century, the wax models produced in the workshop of Andrea Verrocchio are among the earliest and most fascinating examples of the transition between art and science. It is known that his workshop was a center of technical and artistic innovation, where many of his collaborators and students deepened the study of anatomy at a time when anatomical dissection was practiced with difficulties under restrictions. It is a reasonable hypothesis that these artists also created wax anatomical models.

Leonardo may confirm this: he used wax models not only for painting, but especially for anatomical purposes. In a systematic manner, he explored methods for creating wax models and casts – of both organs and lower limbs – recognizing the value of three-dimensional representations for understanding the human body, thus anticipating modern techniques of medical visualization [Publisher's text].

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