The Tabulae anatomicae (1794-1803) of Justus Christian Loder: anatomical illustration between science, art and commerce

With the publication of his Tabulae anatomicae in 1803, the Jena anatomist Justus Christian Loder (1753-1832) fulfilled the desideratum of a complete collection of anatomical illustrations of the entire human body. His "Tables" were one of the largest and most ambitious anatomical atlases in the German-speaking countries around 1800. The work reflects Loder's scientific concepts, the quality of his artists and the economic conditions of his publisher. Intended for a wide use in academic instruction, Loder's Tabulae popularised a style of illustration that focused on anatomical facts as basic statements and avoided artistic additions or culturally normative symbolism. Loder opposed theoretical transcendence and standardisation in the representation of human anatomy.