Thomas Willis, Md, 17th C. Pioneer of Neurology & Psychiatry: 18th C. Portrait, by George Vertue, 1742

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This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of the 17th century physician and scientist Thomas Willis, MD from "The … Read more This is an 18th century copperplate engraved portrait of the 17th century physician and scientist Thomas Willis, MD from "The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain", engraved by Jacobus Houbraken and George Vertue and published by John & Paul Knapton in London in 1742. The portrait of Willis is within an ornate oval topped by dramatic feathered wings and a staff of Asclepius with one snake enticed around it. Flanking the lower portion of the oval are a skull, spine and ribs, bottles containing liquids, manuscripts and quills for writing, books and a coat of arms.

Thomas Willis, MD (1621-1675) was an English doctor and anatomist, who played an important part in the history of anatomy, neurology and psychiatry. He was a founding member of the Royal Society. Willis was a pioneer in research into the anatomy of the brain, nervous system and muscles. His most notable discovery was the "Circle of Willis" (named after him), which is a circle of connected arteries at the base of the brain. It receives blood from the heart via the cerebral arteries and gives off major arterial branches which supply blood to the brain. Willis was the first to number the cranial nerves at the base of the skull in the order still in use today. His major publication "Cerebri Anatome" was published in 1664. In it he coined the term neurology. The great English architect Sir Christopher Wren provided drawings, as did Thomas Millington, and the anatomist Richard Lower. In 1667 Willis published "Pathologicae cerebri, et nervosi generis specimen", an important work on the pathology and neurophysiology of the brain. In it he developed a new theory of the cause of epilepsy and other convulsive diseases, and contributed to the development of psychiatry. In 1672 Willis published the earliest English work on medical psychology. He also promoted a new theory of the cause of epilepsy and other convulsive diseases and he contributed to the development of the field of psychiatry.

This beautiful engraved portrait measures 15.88" in height by 10" in width. It has very wide margins. There is faint spotting in the margins, but the print is otherwise in excellent condition. See less