Torsos with Rib Cages
1544
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1544
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows piles of rib cages arranged like decorations. The bones sit neatly but look odd—some scientific, some artistic. Tiny details like the curves of each rib cage make it feel strange yet careful. Early artists studied human bodies by cutting them open. Battista Franco did this too. He mixed science with art in a way that feels both spooky and thoughtful. Try looking up Battista Franco (Italian, c. 1510–1561) next.
