Page 10 - The Netter Collection of Medical Illustrations - Integumentary System_ Volume 4 ( PDFDrive )

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Frank H. Netter, MD
(1906-1991)
“The Medical Michelangelo”

elebrated as the foremost medical illustrator of that artists led a very dissolute life, which of course was back asking for more heart flyers—without the advertis-
Cthe human body and how it works, Dr. Frank H. really not true.” ing copy. Dr. Netter went on to design similar product
Netter began his career as a medical illustrator in To find a more “dependable” career, Dr. Netter advertisements depicting other organs, and all were
the 1930s when the CIBA Pharmaceutical Company entered New York University Medical School. But even extremely well received. After that project was con-
commissioned him to prepare illustrations of the major as he pursued his training as a surgeon, Dr. Netter cluded, Dr. Netter was commissioned to prepare small
organs and their pathology. Dr. Netter’s incredibly found that it was easier for him to take notes in pictures folders of pathology plates that were later collected into
detailed, lifelike renderings were so well received by the than in words. “Mine was a graphic viewpoint. My the first CIBA Collection of Medical Illustrations.
medical community that CIBA published them in a notebooks were crammed with illustrations. It was the Following the success of these endeavors, Dr. Netter
book. This first successful publication in 1948 was fol- only way I could remember things.” Soon faculty was asked to illustrate a series of atlases that became his
lowed by the series of volumes that now carry the members recognized his artistic talents, and Dr. Netter life’s work. They are a group of volumes individually
Netter name, The Netter Collection of Medical Illustra- began to pay for part of his medical education by illus- devoted to each organ system and cover human ana-
tions. Even years after his death, Dr. Netter is still trating lectures and textbooks. tomy, embryology, physiology, pathology, and pertinent
acknowledged as the foremost master of medical illus- Starting out as a young physician during the Depres- clinical features of the diseases arising in each system.
tration. His anatomical drawings are the benchmark by sion, Dr. Netter found that there was more interest in Dr. Netter has completed volumes on the nervous
which all other medical art is measured and judged. his medical artwork than his surgical capabilities. “I system, reproductive system, lower and upper diges-
“As far back as I can remember, ever since I was little thought I could do drawings until I had my practice on tive tracts, liver, biliary tract and pancreas, endocrine
tot, I studied art,” said Dr. Netter during an interview its feet,” he recalled, “but the demand for my pictures system, kidney, ureters, urinary bladder, respiratory
in 1986. At the time he was hailed by the New York grew much faster than the demand for my surgery. As system, and musculoskeletal system.
Times as “The Medical Michelangelo.” “All I wanted to a result, I gave up my practice entirely.” Dr. Netter’s beautifully rendered volumes are now to
do was to make pictures,” he reflected. Born in New In 1938, Dr. Netter was hired by the CIBA Pharma- be found in every medical school library in the country,
York in 1906, Dr. Netter had already established himself ceutical Company to work on a promotional flyer for a as well as in many doctors’ offices around the world,
as a successful commercial artist in the 1920s when, at heart medication. He designed a folder cut in the shape and his work has helped to educate and enlighten gen-
the advice of his parents, he changed careers. “I gave of and elaborately depicting a heart, which was sent to erations of physicians. In 1988, the New York Times
up art at the urging of my family,” he said. “They felt physicians. Surprisingly, many of the doctors wrote called Netter “an artist who has probably contributed

viii THE NETTER COLLECTION OF MEDICAL ILLUSTRATIONS