Waxwork Venus

The Museum of Human Anatomy features a waxwork Venus dated 1814, created by the Florentine wax model-maker Francesco Calenzuoli from whom the university of Perugia had commissioned a series of bespoke waxworks. In November 1816 the Venus, a common denomination for waxworks of the female body with removeable organs, was shipped over from Florence along with three other waxworks, in her own coffin with her head resting on a pillow covered in Turkish silk. 

The outfitting of the Venus showed considerable care had been taken, particularly with regard to the materials: she had an Oriental cape in pearl-coloured Levantine fabric to preserve her modesty; the golden fringe on the cape was sourced from France; the coffin’s glass top was from Bohemia; the wig of false hair with a centre-parting from Milan. Thus furnished, the waxworks were also supplied with an explanatory guide containing nineteen anatomical drawings.