Role of anatomical drawings in the era of Russian Classicism

In accordance with the ideology of classicism, the principle of scientific validity became important in the teaching system of the Imperial Academy of Arts. President of the Imperial Academy of Arts A.N. Olenin introduced the discipline of anatomy in 1831. Lectures were delivered by I.V. Buyalskiy, Public Ordinary Professor of Anatomy of the Imperial Medico-Surgical Academy. After lectures, students drew from nature skeletons, muscles, veins or artificial anatomical specimens of muscles, made of paper dough and painted naturally. One was made by Fisher, the other by Houdon, the third by Kozlowski. In 1832, at the expense of the Society for Artist Support The Anatomy for Painters and Sculptors by J. Del Medico was published. In 1860, I.V. Buyalskiy published The Anatomical Notes for Those Studying of Painting and Sculpture at the Imperial Academy ofArts with six color lithographs (three images of the skeleton and of the ecorche). Buyalskiy also made an anatomic phantom for students of painting and sculpture at the Academy of Arts, which artist Sapozhnikov soon used as a model for his bronze anatomical figure. The plaster mold was removed from the phantom and a statue was cast of a slender man's body with superficial muscle lying on his back. With the resumption of teaching anatomy in the Academy of Arts the work in sculpture and painting classes revived. Programs for students paid more attention to nudity. V.K. Shebuev's students, K.P. Bryullov, A.A. Ivanov, P.V. Basin and F.A. Bruni, who later became teachers of natural drawing, owe him a lot. Thus, the scientific basis of the art were considerably strengthened with the teaching of anatomy in the Academy of Arts. Moreover, realistic art received new ways of development in connection with teaching of K. P. Bryullov. Considering the study of the "Antiques" necessary for the artist, Bryullov still believed that drawing a naked body to be fundamental. Views of classicism in art and its social significance, the requirements of service to the "honor and Homeland" from the art was the basis of pedagogy of the Academy of Arts in the first half of the 19th century. Deep knowledge of anatomy, accuracy and expressiveness of visual tools allowed artists to illustrate the benefits to medical science. Anatomical drawings by Russian artists as well as more accurately conveyed the structure of the human body, while plastic problem. Reliability in the representation of the human body helped artists to create true masterpieces of painting and sculpture. In close cooperation of physicians and artists anatomy was taught, based on a scientific systematic knowledge. Visual aids and anatomical drawings of Russian artists became a methodological basis for teaching artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. At present, Plastic Anatomy is part of the curriculum of art schools and universities.

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