We invite you to view the fourth exhibition as part of the Virtual Gallery of the Main Library of the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków—Our Collections. The exhibition *The Body as a Model: Pioneering Anatomical Studies by Władysław Łuszczkiewicz*—from the collections of the Main Library of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków—presents a unique manuscript by one
of the most important educators and lecturers associated with the School of Fine Arts in Kraków, later the Academy of Fine Arts.
The exhibition is dedicated to the 1874 manuscript *The Science of the Structure of the Human Body*—the first academic anatomy textbook developed specifically for the education of artists. This work combines a descriptive section with a set of precise anatomical drawings, illustrating an approach—innovative for its time—to teaching anatomy as an essential element of artistic training. The material on display serves as valuable evidence of the intertwining of science and art in the second half of the 19th century, as well as the high standard of instruction at the Kraków School of Fine Arts.
The exhibition is accompanied by three texts written by authors from various professional backgrounds, which adds further value to the display. Two of them were written by librarians from the Academy of Fine Arts’ Main Library and provide insight into the circumstances surrounding the manuscript’s creation, its history, and its significance within the academy’s collections. The third text, written by Dr. Marcin Jakiel—a physician and anatomy instructor—provides a substantive perspective from the field of medical sciences, deepening the understanding of anatomical issues relevant to art education.
The exhibition is now available online, providing broad access to this unique historical artifact of literary and art education to anyone interested in art history, education, and the relationship between science
and art.
The poster promoting the exhibition was designed by Professor Władysław Pluta—an outstanding graphic artist whose design subtly
and in a balanced way reflects the theme and character of the manuscript on display.
We cordially invite you to visit the exhibition in the “Our Collections” Virtual Gallery and discover this exceptional work by Władysław Łuszczkiewicz, which is an important part of our university’s heritage.
