famous dead guys: Andreas Vesalius
Hey there, Andreas! Mind if I call you Andre?
Yes, actually, I --
Great! So, Andre, why don't you talk a little about yourself. Where you were born?
I was bourne into a family of well mannered physicians in Brussells, New Year's Eve, 1514 in the year of our Lord. I studied Greek and Latin at the Bretheren of the Common Life, where I worked for my daily bread and sought to cultivate my interior world with blissful introspection. It was a simple but happy time.
Neat! So, you're known now for making all those freaky awesome drawings of the human body -- love them! In fact, if you wouldn't mind signing my clavicle here.....Umm, hope this isn't too forward of me--
My dear lady, what are you suggesting?
Hokay, maybe we can get to that later! How did you get all into the anatomy stuff anyway, Mr. Andre?
Ah, well you see, I had began studying at the University of Paris, and was introduced to the theories of Galen.
Oh yeah, Galen! He was a pretty cool guy, yeah?
....and from these theories my seed of interest sprang. In fact, I could often be found studying the bones of the misbegotten in the Cimetière des Innocents. Oh my, how they would chide me for that! "Off to play with your bony friends again, Andre?" they'd ask. "What sort of skeletons are in your closet?" Ah, that one always made me chuckle something great.
Hanging out in the catacombs, eh? Did you ever experience religious conflict because of this? I mean, examining bones of dead dudes.... did that present any kind of crisis of faith for you? That cemetary got pretty crowded if I remember correctly.
Well, indeed, I was forced to pursue my studies elsewhere as the Holy Roman Empire and France began engaging in these very unbecoming hostilities. I eventually completed my thesis, "Paraphrasis in nonum librum Rhazae medici arabis clariss ad regem Almansorum de affectum singularum corporis partium curatione."
That's a very long title, sir! Not very modest, are we?
Whatever do you mean? The title contains all necessary words and nothing more.
Yeah. Anyway, so talk about this picture:
What's going on there, Andre? Seems like there could be some sort of symbolism or something.
Yes, that is an illustration from my work "De Humani Corporis Fabrica," seven volumes that required me to--
And you dedicated it to a "Charles V." Who was he, hmmm? Did you have a special gentleman friend there, Andre?
My, um, this is awkward, I -- that note stayed in there after 500 years? Anyhow, that was Charles the 5th. Though he'll always be my...first.
History and Wikipedia never lie, my friend. Now, about my clavicle...you wanna do it medially or laterally? I can be very accomodating.
worst headache ever.