Sir William Osler's Leonardo Da Vinci Collection: Flight, Anatomy and Art
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
SIR WILLIAM OSLER’S LEONARDO DA VINCI COLLECTION: FLIGHT, ANATOMY AND ART ROLANDO F. DEL MAESTRO SIR WILLIAM OSLER’S LEONARDO DA VINCI COLLECTION: FLIGHT, ANATOMY AND ART ROLANDO F. DEL MAESTRO Contents 4 Preface 5 Acknowledgements 6 Forward 10 Chapter One The Life of Leonardo da Vinci Largita da Dio (Gift from God) Section 1-6 References 30 Chapter Two Sir William Osler and Leonardo da Vinci: Lives of Engagement Creativity: A Restlessness Teaching: The Essence Libraries: The Foundation of Knowledge 40 Chapter Three Sir William Osler’s Leonardo da Vinci Collection: Flight, Anatomy and Art Section 1-19 Living Libraries: Personal, Unique, and Always Evolving Leonardo da Vinci and Flight Codex on The Flight of Birds The Macrocosm, Microcosm and Anatomical Dissection Leonardo's Life and Art 140 Epilogue: The Phoenix after the Fire 152 Facsimiles, Transcriptions, Translations and Catalogues 153 Selected Bibliography 154 Limited Print: Copy Number and Author Signature All Rights Reserved. DW Medical Consulting 2007 Inc. Published by DW Medical Consulting 2007 Inc. 17 Red Pine Crescent, Tiverton, Ontario, N0G 2T0. © 2019 DW Medical Consulting 2007 Inc. ISBN 978-1-9990803-0-3 Printed by M&T Publishing Group 1074 Dearness Drive, London ON. Canada Preface Acknowledgements ir William Osler is one of the most he extended this method to the careful First, I would like to thank my wife, Pam Del with Mike Spry were particularly helpful in the studied medical men of the modern era. arrangement of the library that was destined Maestro, who critically assessed, edited and photography of special items from my collec- SScholars have examined his contribu- for the McGill Medical Faculty. Every item was a constant support during the writing of tion. tions to a variety of disciplines, chief among in Osler’s library was intended to be there. this manuscript. Better yet, she has put up with Particular thanks also belong to my friend, them medicine, medical education, and book The Sir William Osler Collection within the me and my bibliomania for 45 years. Second, I Mike Froome, of M&T Printing Group who collecting. In Sir William Osler’s Leonardo da Vinci Osler Library Archives contains considerable would like to thank my friend, Garry Robbins, took a special interest in this project and Collection: Flight, Anatomy and Art, Rolando Del documentation of the care with which Osler who has been invaluable in assisting with exhi- helped immensely in bringing it to comple- Maestro has uncovered an area otherwise over- crafted his eponymous library. Although Osler bitions and books over many many years. tion. Kali Harbinson, Karlene McCarthy and looked in Osler studies. finished a great portion of his catalogue and I would especially like to acknowledge Karen Bumstead, graphic designers at M&T, accompanying notes prior to his death on 29 Dr. Mary Hague-Yearl, Head Librarian, Osler are responsible for the beauty of the book. Del Maestro’s work is novel in its focus on December 1919, there remain instances of Library of the History of Medicine at McGill Osler’s interest in Leonardo da Vinci, and silence within Osler’s record. Essential funding for this volume was provided University who contributed substantially to clever in its weaving together of the lives by Ann McCain-Evans and Mark McCain. the conception, editing and completion of this of two iconic figures who lived 400 years Rolando Del Maestro has addressed some of The Friends of the Osler library also contrib- project. apart, each of whom was well-rounded in his the silences within the archives by examining uted generously to this project. Dr. Colleen intellectual pursuits. It is likely that many of the existing letters, notes, and memoranda in I would also like to thank Lily Szczygiel and Cook, Trenholme Dean of Libraries, McGill those who consider themselves to be students which Osler laid out his thoughts and plans for Bozena Latincic, Documentation Technicians, University provided funding and allowed the of Osler might nonetheless be unaware that what he himself called the Bibliotheca Osleriana; at the Osler Library for their assistance. Lily exhibition to take place at McGill’s McLen- “Leonardo” is the first titled sub-section within with these, Del Maestro has contextualized was invaluable in helping to locate items to nan Library. Dr. David Eidelman, Dean of the the pages of the Bibliotheca Osleriana (Prima) that Osler’s collecting of Leonardo’s works on be researched, displayed and photographed. Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, and are devoted to the sixteenth century. flight, anatomy, and art. He points out that Pamela and Carman Miller read the manu- his team provided funding that helped make there is little reason to question why Osler script and made excellent suggestions which this volume a reality. In his exhibition and this accompanying text, purchased editions of Leonardo’s works on improved the quality of the work. Professor I want to especially thank my wife Pam and Del Maestro draws from deep wells of knowl- anatomy; not only is the subject matter clearly Nathalie Cook provided valuable information. my children Lana, Adrian and Christian for edge about both Leonardo and Osler. He relevant to the medical arts, but it also fits Greg Houston, Digitization Administrator, putting up with the many books that have at masterfully takes what he knows – and what with Osler’s training as a pathologist and his McGill Libraries did excellent photogra- times overwhelmed our living quarters over the is generally known – about the two and uses accumulation of an impressive corpus of works phy for the volume. Helmut Bernhard, from years. that fundamental understanding to raise new on anatomy. A more curious question that Del the Montreal Neurological Institute Media questions about Osler’s interest in Leonardo. Maestro raises is why Osler was interested in Although numerous individuals have been in- Services, and myself have shared an almost Leonardo’s works on flight. Venture within volved in the production of this project, I, the twenty year history dealing with the nuances That Leonardo is the subject of a sub-section the pages of this study to discover answers to author, am responsible for any errors, omis- of photographic excellence and I am grateful in the Bibliotheca Prima is itself worth examin- that question and to learn more about Osler’s sions or misinterpretations and can only beg for his superb advice and outstanding work. ing. As Del Maestro rightly points out, Osler Leonardo collection. forgiveness for the lapses that may be present. took a deliberate approach to book collecting; Amanda of Amanda Pearce Photography along Mary Hague-Yearl Rolando F. Del Maestro Head Librarian Osler Library of the History of Medicine 4 5 Foreword n my second undergraduate year at Western stores. Money was tight then. Languishing on University, London, Ontario, Canada I a forgotten corner was a Sir Kenneth Clark Iwas privileged to take a psychology course (1903-1983) paperback reprint entitled Leon- taught by a truly amazing teacher, Professor Ja- ardo da Vinci which was first published in 1939. roslav Havelka (1917-2005). Finding a seat in The last page of Clark’s introduction closed his class was a struggle as many students, not with a rather long sentence which gathered enrolled, would always attend. When all the my attention at the time and has continued to seats were occupied, the steps covered with intrigue me: sitting learners and the back of the classroom sheltering even more students, the professor Yet just as Leonardo, in his intellectual pursuit of natural would appear carrying only a brown folder forces, hung on with a kind of inspired tenacity, so in the which he never opened. While captivating the St. John we feel him pressing closer round the form, pen- students with his concepts of the critical role etrating further and further into the mystery, till at last of creativity in the human condition, a very he seems to become a part of it, so that like his contempo- brave student asked him what secrets were raries we no longer think of him as a scientist, a seeker for lurking in the folder. The professor looked measurable truth, but as a magician, a man who, from surprised, opened the folder and it was empty. his close familiarity with the processes of nature, has He smiled. The lesson: the world was an open learnt a disturbing secret of creation.2 folder and thus each of us was invited to fill it with the energy of our investigative spirit. And so I joined the battle using Leonardo da Vinci as my flagbearer. Being consumed with As an intern, with difficulty, I organized my the rigors of an internship at the busy Victo- schedule so I could attend a night class on ria Hospital in London did not leave much the psychology of creativity taught by Dr. time for creative thought. I passed the course Havelka. This course focused on the dynamic but did not distinguish myself. The professor creative process key to excellence in the clearly felt that my academic joust lacked arts, music, literature and science.1 Wolfgang depth. He encouraged more intellectual vigor. Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Havelka’s I have always felt that my lifelong interest in particular love, was held up as a symbol of Leonardo and my pursuit to collect Leonardo creative expression at the epoch of human da Vinci items was in a way atonement for this achievement. Mozart’s music filled the class- poor performance. After starting my neuro- room and we were informed that his musical surgical practice at Western University I was compositions had no or few corrections. It again privileged to attend one of Professor flowed from a special set of cerebral genes Havelka’s night classes.