By Pascale Pollier : Medical Artist Founder of ARSIC &  Vesalius Continuum

The quest for the lost grave of Andreas Vesalius is a Scientific-Artistic project in collaboration with prominent researchers, Theo Dirix and artist Pascale Pollier-Green

The Renaissance anatomist Andreas Vesalius revolutionised medical knowledge by creating and publishing the intricately illustrated “De humani corporis fabrica.” This ground-breaking anatomy book, mapping the human body in unprecedented detail, has endured as the most renowned work of its kind in history. Despite our extensive understanding of Vesalius and the production of the Fabrica, the identities of the artist behind its illustrations, such as Jan Stephan von Calcar, a student of Titian, remain enigmatic. Nevertheless, this artist, collaborating with Vesalius, played a pivotal role in shaping medical illustration for centuries.

In 2009, Pascale, inspired by her completion of a facial reconstruction course in Maastricht, conceived the idea of reconstructing the face of the eminent anatomist Andreas Vesalius. Despite uncertainties surrounding Vesalius’s burial, believed to be in Brussels, Pascale and her colleague Ann van de Velde embarked on a quest for the truth. Their journey led them to the Ionian Island of Zakynthos in Greece, where Vesalius’s death had remained a mystery for over four centuries. Intriguingly, various theories surrounding the cause of his death and the exact burial site, ranging from shipwreck to disease, prompted their determination to uncover the truth. Sailing to Zakynthos, they explored potential sites, including the lost Franciscan monastery in Pantokratoras and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. During their quest, letters discovered by esteemed Belgian researchers Omer Steeno, Maurits Biesbrouck, and Theo Godeeris revealed an alternative theory associated with the Franciscan monastery ‘Annunciata’ at Santa Maria delle Grazie, as mentioned by Flemish author Giovanni Zuallardo in 1586. Unfortunately, the epitaph was lost in 1571, deepening the layers of intrigue surrounding their investigation.

In the words of Pascale Pollier herself,

“A decade later, we are delighted to unveil our comprehensive findings derived from the application of advanced technologies at the archaeological site of Santa Maria Della Grazia in Zakynthos. Our primary objective was to ascertain the burial place of Vesalius, and these cutting-edge methods have provided invaluable insights and results.

Our quest is ongoing the next step will hopefully be locating the exact spot of the burial site! If we do find the exact location, our intention is to conduct an excavation and perform a facial reconstruction on the skull of Andreas Vesalius. Additionally, I envision creating a digital facial reconstruction and animating the reconstruction of the face to develop an interactive avatar of Vesalius. The ultimate goal is to transform this avatar into an educational app, allowing the pioneering anatomist to come back to life digitally. Through this innovative approach, Vesalius could become a virtual teacher, a blast from the past, imparting anatomical knowledge to modern medical students. I believe such a technological homage aligns with Vesalius’s spirit of exploration and education, making it a fitting tribute to his legacy.”

http://www.artem-medicalis.com/


The standout images in Book II of Vesalius’s work are the Muscle Men. These illustrations showcase men in various stages of dissection against the backdrop of the Euganean hills near Venice and Padua, Italy. When assembled, these images create a continuous panorama, blending the scientific study of the human body with the natural world

In collaboration with forensic medical artist Richard Neave, Pascale sculpted a commemorative monument for the 500th anniversary of Vesalius’s birth. The monument features an ecorche holding a skull, symbolising the ongoing quest for Vesalius’s grave. The ecorche is inspired by two illustrations from Vesalius’s masterpiece anatomy book; “The Fabrica”. One illustration depicts a contemplative skeleton with a bowed posture, accompanied by the inscription on the plinth: “vivitur ingenio, caetera mortis erunt” (“genius lives on, all else is mortal”). The second ecorche points skyward, symbolizing a philosophical perspective that transcends the limitations of the physical body, suggesting there is more to life beyond our corporeal existence. 

To finance the creation of the monument, we produced a unique sculpture of Vesalius’s head, blending half reconstruction and half portrait, and cast it in bronze. Twelve copies of this distinctive piece were sold, generating the necessary funds for both the production and shipment of the new monument. This monument, a gift to the people of Zakynthos, now stands proudly on Vesalius Square, facing the sea from which Vesalius first arrived on the island nearly 460 years ago.

The search for Andreas Vesalius’s lost grave persists as ARSIC founder and  medical artist Pascale Pollier-Green http://www.artem-medicalis.com/  and writer and taphophile Theo Dirix http://www.theodirix.com/books.html actively seek funds to start the excavating through various channels. Their efforts include organising lectures, events, writing books, and articles, all aimed at realising the ultimate dream of locating Vesalius remains.