Juan valverde de amsco images of butterflies

In the days before intellectual property laws (and when plagiarism was sometimes viewed as a compliment to the author) Juan Valverde of Spain wrote a book on anatomy so successful that it went through sixteen editions in four languages and its illustrations remain popular to this day.

It was composed in 1556 and titled Anatomia del corpo umano. At least some of the drawings were made by the Spanish artist Gaspar Becerra and some of the copper engravings by the reputed engraver Nicolas Beatrizet from Lorraine. Of its forty-two plates Valdeverde composed fifteen and copied (but often altered) most others from Vesalius, saying he admired him greatly but used his illustrations to avoid confusion. Vesalius did not appreciate having his work copied, calling Valdeverde an ignoramus who did not know medicine, had done few dissections himself, and only published in Spanish to make a shameful profit.

The work nevertheless was pleasing and instructive as well Juan valverde de amsco images of butterflies and bugs!