Cowper, W.  Myotomia reformata; or, A New Administration of
All the Muscles of Humane Bodies (1694).

William Cowper (1666-1709), English surgeon and anatomist, spent the last 15 years of his life reworking this modest first attempt at a comprehensive anatomical atlas.   Over the years he made numerous additions and corrections and wrote a short historical preface and long introduction to muscular mechanics.   In 1724, thirteen years after Cowper's death, Richard Mead took Cowper's work, had it edited by leading surgeons, and published the result in an elaborate folio, which is regarded as one of the most artistic anatomical atlases of its time for its engravings styled after Rubens and Raphael and its ingenious historiated initials.

Figure I has also been reproduced in the College's brochure on Historical Library Services.


(Sources: Garrison & Morton; Dictionary of National Biography)