Studies of the Fetus in the Womb

Studies of the Fetus in the Womb is a drawing series showing two anatomical sketches of a fetus inside the uterus with careful detail. The sheets include handwritten notes documenting observations about the placenta, blood vessels, and body positioning.

The drawings were created around 1511 when the artist worked with anatomist Marcantonio della Torre, examining cadavers for research. This collaboration was unusual for its time and enabled new insights into how the human body is structured internally.

These drawings show how artists and physicians worked together during the Renaissance to understand the human body better. The works blend manual skill with scientific thinking and continue to shape how we view the relationship between art and medicine.

The collection is kept at Windsor Castle, where viewers can see them in dedicated exhibition spaces. Access requires advance arrangement, as the works are only shown during specific times and under controlled conditions.

The artist drew the uterus as a single-chamber structure, contradicting the medical belief of the time that multiple chambers existed for twins. This anatomically accurate depiction was a major step forward in understanding human reproduction.