Anatomical Waxes

La Specola di Firenza|David Croneberg

“Cere Anatomiche” was conceived as a dialogue between thirteen of La Specola’s famous anatomical waxworks and legendary Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg’s vision of the human body. The sublime art and science of anatomical wax modeling was created primarily as an Enlightenment teaching tool to provide educational insights into the human body with “the odors, unpleasant fluids, and negative emotions eliminated.” But a morbid undercurrent of secrecy and unease was always part of its allure and practice. The twenty-seven exhaustive and often extraordinary texts, accompanied by stunningly opulent visuals, provide a deep plunge into the remarkable history of the famed collection, investigating its current resonance in our culture at large, and David Cronenberg’s filmography in particular. — Herbert Pföstl, Book Consultant for the New Museum Store.

Published for an exhibition at Fondazione Prada, this book showcases the models of La Specola Museum alongside a new short film by David Cronenberg. Featuring interviews with Cronenberg and essays by various scholars, the book explores the historical and contemporary significance of the wax models and delves into Cronenberg’s unique vision of the body, highlighting the intersection of scientific research and creative practice.

2024; paperback; 6.75 x 9 inches; 556 pages, 130 color, 65 b&w; ISBN: 9788887029840.