This guide will help you find inspiration and information about human anatomy, and contemporary artists who work with and subvert representations of the human figure.
Browse these general call number ranges and headings on the SMFA Library shelves
| QM | Human anatomy |
| N7572 | Nude in art |
| NC760 | Anatomy, artistic |
| ND1290 | Figure painting |
| NB1930 | Figurative sculpture |
| NC765 | Figure drawing |
| N6494 .B63 | Body art (performance) |
To see monographs about individual artists who do figurative work, search their names in the FLO catalog. To see books on our shelves, limit your results to the SMFA Library.
Browse these subject headings to see all consortium holdings related to anatomy and figurative art
| Anatomy, Artistic | Human anatomy--Pictorial works |
| Figure drawing | Human figure in art |
| Figure painting | Medicine and art |
| Human anatomy | Medical illustration |
| Human anatomy--Early works to 1800 | Nude in art |
Artsy
The website Artsy is a fantastic source of images of and information about contemporary art. Try searching and exploring these topics:
Artstor
The SMFA Library provides access to Artstor (linked below), a great resource for art images.
Using the advanced search feature, you can:
Please note that to use this resource outside the Library, you must set up an account on a Library computer.
Anatomy Images Online
There are several online resources featuring historical anatomical images.
You can further explore resources, in the SMFA LIbrary and beyond, on the following subjects:
And there are more! Go here for a complete list of our Research Guides.
Please feel free to get in touch with a librarian at any stage of your research process. Stop by the library (located on the third floor of the B side of the Fenway building), or get in touch directly with:
Ashley Peterson
Darin Murphy
Circulation Desk (evening and weekend contact)