The greatest treasure of the Josephinum, namely the unique collection of anatomical and obstetric wax models, has remained in virtually pristine condition over the passage of two centuries since their creation, even if the ambience and arrangement of the collection have been altered. The idea of acquiring this incomparable teaching aid from Florence was Emperor Joseph's own brainchild and he personally financed the creation of the famed models. Their history is of interest. On a journey to Italy in 1780, when Joseph was staying as the guest of his brother, the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Tuscany, the emperor visited the Reale Museo di Fisica e Storia Naturale in Florence (nicknamed La Specola on account of its observatory), which Pietro Leopoldo had opened in 1775. The imperial visitor was fascinated by the exhibited lifelike wax models of the whole human body, which had been made under the supervision of the physiologist, Felice Fontana (1720 - 1805), and decided on the spot to order a duplicate collection for his medizinisch-chirurgische Akademie, which presumably was in the process of being planned at the time. Fontana, who naturally greeted this project enthusiastically, was able to persuade Pietro Leopoldo to permit him to create the commissioned wax models in his own home, helped by several skilled workmen from La Specola.

The fact that the noted anatomist, Paolo Mascagni (1752 - 1815), a close friend of Fontana's, was entrusted with the supervision of the large-scale operation ensured its success to a great extent. Owing to his personal imprint, the Viennese wax model collection did not emerge as a straight copy of the original Florentine set, but incorporated new ideas. Thus, for example, the findings of Mascagni's latest pioneer studies on the lymphatic system of the human body, barely completed at the time, were taken into consideration in the creation of the models for Vienna.

Paolo Mascagni

The extraordinarily gifted modeller, Clemente Susini (1754 - 1814) was chiefly responsible for the technical execution of the undertaking. The models were produced in Florence over the period 1784 - 1788 and then laboriously brought to Vienna by means of several extremely costly transportations. The first stage involved traversing the Alps via the Brenner Pass using mules, with continuation of the journey from Linz to the capital by boat down the Danube. The total expenditure by Emperor Joseph on the 1192 wax models was 30,000 gulden. The preparations were displayed in altogether 368 rosewood cases, each fitted with Venetian glass. These cases were set up in seven rooms for viewing by the general public, as well as by students of the Josephinum. To facilitate understanding of the individual anatomical and obstetric models, every case was furnished with a shallow drawer designed to hold the relevant descriptive leaflet, both in Italian and German, complemented by an appropriate watercolour painting. As in the case of the Florentine wax preparations, the anatomical and obstetric models in the Viennese collection were created on the basis of a profound study of copperplate engravings from the most distinguished contemporary works on anatomy, naturally supplemented by practical observation of post mortem dissections. The obstetric wax models are of particular importance; consisting of 102 preparations displayed in 42 cases, the Josephinian collection is the largest of its genre in the world.

Currently, the collection of wax models is set out in six rooms of the Josephinum, divided into the following groups: 1) ligaments and muscles 2) heart, as well as blood and lymph vessels 3) viscera 4) brain, spinal cord and sensory organs 5) obstetrics.

Apart from its intrinsic, superlative artistic value, the collection is of incomparable didactic significance. This is as applicable as it was 200 years ago, since the plastic material of the hardened and dyed wax produces a three-dimensional insight into the spatial relationship, for instance, between the various organs of the thorax and abdomen, as well as the course of the blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves; moreover, this impression is presented to the observer in dimensions and proportions reproducing nature as closely as possible.

The so-called Mediceische Venus

Two unique models deserve special mention, namely those of a heart and the so-called Mediceische Venus, both of which can be totally dismantled for educational benefit.

In order to retain maximum authenticity with respect to the character of the Viennese collection, the expert restorers place emphasis on scrupulous historical accuracy in the implementation of the continuous restoration programme, especially in choosing materials to match the originals as closely as possible. Gabriela Schmidt

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