Anomaly and Norm

The Adaptability of Life Between Anatomy and Biology

Second Room. The Anomalous as Pathology

In the Renaissance there is no distinction between the monster intended as a mythical creature and an individual that presents severe anomalies. Fantastical forms were treated with the same rigor than scientifically proven anomalies, and they were described between monstrous forms subjects like dwarfs: the teratology will be conceived as a science much later.

Antonio Vallisneri Senior (1661-1730) is considered the founder of the scientific paduan museology thanks to his Natural Philosophy Museum. During his trips to Europe, Vallisneri started to collect rare specimens of biological species with the intent of educating his students to what he defined “philosophical curiosity”. He used the objects to stimulate the understanding of nature: an approach which marks a clear change towards the tradition of the Wunderkammer, which had as a main purpose to amaze and celebrate the social status of their owners.

With Giovanni Battista Morgagni (1682-1771), father of the Anatomical Pathology, a true revolution occurs: the sistematic introduction of the anatomical prospective in the study of the anomalies and diseases. From this comes the need to preserve what Morgagni defined as typical injuries of common diseases and unusual injuries of rare diseases. The anomalous isn’t conceived anymore as mirabilia and starts to be conceived as pathological subject, disfuntional, to be treated, to be preserved and catalogued for experimental research (with the creation of dry and liquid anatomical preparations).

In this section, historical human remains of great scientific value from the Morgagni Museum of Human Anatomy of the University of Padova are displayed. These anatomical specimens may result inappropriate to the sensibility of some visitors.

The exhibition route does, however, provide the option to follow an alternative path.

Taking pictures or doing video recordings is prohibited within the exhibition without prior authorization.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.