The Historical Significance of Jan Van Rymsdyk, the "Father of British Medical Illustration"

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: Zubrow Auditorium, Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia

Free and open to the public

This lecture is the first of a series that will highlight Pennsylvania Hospital's new exhibition, "From Pastels to PDA’s: Medical Education from the 18th to the 21st Century." Professor Sarafianos will explore artist Jan Van Rymsdyk, bringing this enigma—and his remarkable work-- to life.

Aris Sarafianos is Lecturer in Art History at the University of Ioannina, Greece. He will discuss the historical significance of Van Rymsdyk in the context of currently growing interdisciplinary interest in the broader field of medical humanities. He has noted that “Van Rymsdyk has produced pioneering work for virtually all landmark anatomical atlases published in Britain in the second half of the 18th century, an achievement which has recently won him the title of 'the patron saint of medical artists' and 'father of British medical illustration'.” Professor Sarafianos has published several books and articles and has been a fellow at the Huntington Library, Yale Center for British Art, and UCLA.