Da Vinci, Leonardo

The father of anatomic art, as well as an accomplished architect, scientist, engineer, inventor, poet, sculptor, and painter. In striking contrast to the pronouncements of Galen and other anatomists, da Vinci recognized that optimal scientific knowledge of human anatomy could be gained only by dissecting the human body. He injected the blood vessels and cerebral ventricles with wax for preservation, a technique that is still used today. His drawings of the human anatomy have long been considered to be unrivaled.