Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.10061
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Anatomy of the porpoise
Date
1680
After
Edward Tyson (1650 - 1708, British) , Physician
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Library reference
R64943
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 232mm
width (print): 315mm
width (print): 315mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Study of a porpoise skeleton, with details of its anatomy, based upon the dissection of the cetacean. This commenced at Garraway’s coffee-house and concluded at Gresham College in London, the first home of the Royal Society. The mammal was most likely the Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena. Thirteen figures in total, numbered 1-13, variously in Arabic and Roman numerals on the plate. Figure 1 Abdominal muscles. Figure 2 The liver. Figure 3 Kidneys, urethra, bladder and sexual organs of a female porpoise. Figure 4 Kidney, with sectional view. Figure 5 Renalis gland. Figure 6 The heart. Figure 7 Blood vessels near the spine in the animal’s thorax. Figure 8-9 The blow-hole. Figure 10 Skeleton of the porpoise. Figure 11 Details of bones of the fore-fin. Figure 12 Anterior part of the ear-bone or tympanum. Figure 12 Posterior part of the ear-bone.
Plate 2 from pamphlet Phocaena, or the anatomy of a porpess, dissected at Gresham Colledge: with a praeliminary discourse concerning anatomy, and a natural history of animals, by Edward Tyson (Benjamin Tooke, London, 1680).
Robert Hooke’s involvement is noted on p.10 of Tyson’s text: “I must acknowledge the kindness of my most Ingenious Friend Mr. Hook, and those worthy Persons, who gave me the opportunity of making the Observation; And his particular assisting me in designing several of the figures...” Original drawings for these plates survive in a manuscript [known as the “Tyson volume”], Royal College of Physicians MS/618.
Inscribed above “Tabula 2da” Not signed.
Plate 2 from pamphlet Phocaena, or the anatomy of a porpess, dissected at Gresham Colledge: with a praeliminary discourse concerning anatomy, and a natural history of animals, by Edward Tyson (Benjamin Tooke, London, 1680).
Robert Hooke’s involvement is noted on p.10 of Tyson’s text: “I must acknowledge the kindness of my most Ingenious Friend Mr. Hook, and those worthy Persons, who gave me the opportunity of making the Observation; And his particular assisting me in designing several of the figures...” Original drawings for these plates survive in a manuscript [known as the “Tyson volume”], Royal College of Physicians MS/618.
Inscribed above “Tabula 2da” Not signed.
Associated place