Illustrations of diseases show at Lilly Library

An exhibit of the 16th through mid-19th century diseases will be on display at the Lilly Library now through Dec. 20.

“Visualizing Disease” features illustrations of ailments that have been published in books and other publications as far back as the 1500s.

Images on display depict various diseases, including internal lesions and an array of dermatological conditions.

According to a press release, many of the illustrations are the first documented images of these diseases.

Other works featured in the exhibit include paintings from Grunwald Gallery Art Director Betsy Stirratt’s “La Maladie” series as well as works from the Bushong-Beasley Antiquarian Dermatology Collection.

Domenico Bertoloni Meli, a professor in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science who also worked to curate the exhibit, said in a press release the exhibit is unlike any art exhibit people might expect.

“Typically, artists have been interested in the human body and the beauty, harmony and proportion of its parts,” Meli said. “When you deal with disease, you are dealing with the opposite of that — there’s no beauty, harmony or proportion, but the images can be very powerful.”

— Carolyn Crowcroft