by Nicole Falconi
Project: Emmy Noether Gruppe (DFG): Anatomische Theater der frühen Neuzeit zwischen Kunst, Natur und Wissenschaft
In the heart of the Ciutat Vella, Barcelona’s historic center, and adjacent to the Hospital de la Santa Creu – a hospital complex founded in the 15th century – stands a rather unassuming neoclassical building. Its façade gives little hint of the impressive interior: a big circular hall with a central marble table surrounded by seating tiers. Today, the building houses the Real Academia de Medicina de Catalunya.
During her stay in Barcelona, Nicole Falconi visited the only remaining Spanish anatomical theatre from the 18th century and carried out research in local archives. Another interesting finding was a small sculpture of surgeon Pere Virgili – founder of the Colegio de Cirugía in Cádiz and Barcelona – at the Museo de Historia de Barcelona. The sculpture shows him holding the floor plan of the anatomical theatre in his hands.
