Coffer Ceiling

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Ceiling of the anatomical theatre, 1637
Archiginnasio
Piazza Galvani
Bologna, June 2015

“The theatre – completely made of spruce wood – underwent several modification and reached its final shape between 1733 and 1736. In this period, Silvestro Giannotti carved the wooden statues which decorate the theatre walls. They represent some famous physicians of Ancient times (Hippocrates, Galenus, etc.) and of the local athenaeum (Mondino de Liuzzi, Gasparo Tagliacozzi). The two famous statues of the ‘Spellati’ (skinned) carrying the canopy surmounting the teacher’s chair are the work of the well-known artist of anatomical wax displays, Ercole Lelli. In the centre of the theatre stands the white table on which the dissection of human or animal bodies took place.” (Anatomical theatre of the Archiginnasio, Wikipedia)