Sculpture and Psychoanalysis (Subject/Object: New Studies in Sculpture)

Description

In the heart of Florence’s La Specola, Clemente Susini’s Anatomical Venus (circa 1790) resides, a remarkable wax figure that defies belief. Originally intended as an ethical and practical teaching tool for human anatomy, this life-sized woman, adorned with glass eyes and human hair, could be disassembled to reveal a peaceful foetus within. Soon, similar models captivated both students and the general public across Europe.