Introduction
Over the course of the eighteenth century, anatomical models were propelled to the forefront of the anatomical world. The Introduction highlights how anatomical models became important social, cultural, and political as well as medical tools. Moreover, it sheds light on what a microhistorical perspective can offer to the study of anatomical modelling and anatomical displays. On the one hand, it points to how such an approach allows us to appreciate the fluidity of meaning that characterized the early stages of anatomical modelling and the variety of actors, including makers, students, artists, and lay audiences, who were involved in its development. On the other hand, it situates anatomical modelling in the context of a complex world of social interaction that encompassed various domains, including artisanal, antiquarian, devotional, and medical cultures; patronage and commerce; the emerging phenomenon of celebrity; and the development of observational practices that were incidental to Grand Tour culture.