The history of anatomical waxes began in 1801, when Francesco Antonio Boi, professor of Human Anatomy at the University of Cagliari, obtained from the viceroy of Sardinia, Carlo Felice, a substantial grant to travel to Pavia, Pisa and Florence to further his knowledge in the medical field. During his study trip to Florence, Francesco Antonio Boi had the opportunity to meet the artist Clemente Susini, who modeled anatomical waxes on commission from Carlo Felice.
The waxes, made between 1803 and 1805 in the wax laboratory of the Specola Museum in Florence, were finally brought to Cagliari in 1806 and exhibited at the Museum of Antiquities and Natural History. In 1858, when the museum was moved to the University building, the waxes were separated as the “Anatomical Cabinet” and entrusted to the custody of the professor of Anatomy. In 1923 they were transported to the old location of the Institute of Anatomy. Since 1991, on the initiative of Professor Alessandro Riva, the waxes have been displayed in the “Pentagonal Hall” of the Citadel of Museums.
The original collection includes a collection of 23 anatomical models made of polychrome wax, obtained from plaster casts of anatomical specimens, meticulously reproducing in section the different parts of the human body, both male and female.
