Smugglerius Art and Anatomy

In this talk Joan Smith, lecturer in drawing and painting at Edinburgh College of Art (eca) will discuss the écorché cast known as ‘Smugglerius’, which is part of the eca plaster cast collection. The eca cast is one of only two known 19th century copies of the 18th century original, which was created under the direction of the anatomist, William Hunter, from the body of a hanged criminal.
The cast was created for the teaching of anatomy to art students at the Royal Academy in London. As an educational tool it symbolised the Enlightenment’s thirst for knowledge but its darker side embodied 18th century society’s attitude to punishment and death. Based on the Roman figure of the Dying Gaul, the cast encompassed both anatomical analysis and classical form and emphasised the importance of understanding the workings of the human body when creating beautiful figurative art.
The story of this artefact will engage audiences in understanding the links between anatomy and aesthetics within the European Academies, a tradition which continues today.