GB 0114 MS0220 - Bell, John (1763-1820)

1 painting, 1 reproduction, and pencil drawings

GB 0114 MS0220 Late 18th century- early 19th century Collection (fonds) 1 painting, 1 reproduction, and pencil drawings Bell , John , 1763-1820 , surgeon and anatomist

John Bell was born in Edinburgh, in 1763. Aged 17 he was apprenticed to Alexander Wood, the leading surgeon at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and attended the lectures of Joseph Black, William Cullen and Alexander Monro secundus. He was admitted freeman surgeon apothecary by the Royal College and Corporation of Surgeon Apothecaries of Edinburgh, in 1786. He began his own practice and also his own programme of lectures. He opened his own lecture theatre in Surgeon's Square, Edinburgh, in 1790. He published a series of textbooks on surgical anatomy and emphasised the practical experience of surgical techniques in training. He had a talent for drawing and produced his own illustrations for his The Anatomy of the Bones, Muscles and Joints (1793-1794) and Discourses on the Nature and Cure of Wounds (1793-1795). He died in Rome in 1825.

Watercolour painting donated by Sir William Ferguson, in 1866. The provenance of the pencil drawings is not known.

Papers of John Bell, late 18th century- early 19th century, comprising a watercolour painting by Bell, of the Dutch Vice Admiral Rutzius, who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Camperdown in Oct 1797; a reproduction of the watercolour which was made for Gordon Gordon-Taylor in 1951, for an article in the British Journal of Surgery; and annnotated pencil drawings of the bones of the skull.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

By written appointment only.

No photocopying permitted.

English

Compiled by Anya Turner.

Source: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Matthew and Harrison eds.) Volume 4: Barney-Bellasis, Oxford 2004.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Sep 2008 Anatomy Armed forces Bell , John , 1763-1820 , surgeon and anatomist Biology Drawings Europe Fine arts British Journal of Surgery Military organizations Naval battles Netherlands Organizations Painting Skull State security Visual materials Watercolour painting Western Europe Battles Illustrations

Watercolour painting donated by Sir William Ferguson, in 1866. The provenance of the pencil drawings is not known.

Papers of John Bell, late 18th century- early 19th century, comprising a watercolour painting by Bell, of the Dutch Vice Admiral Rutzius, who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Camperdown in Oct 1797; a reproduction of the watercolour which was made for Gordon Gordon-Taylor in 1951, for an article in the British Journal of Surgery; and annnotated pencil drawings of the bones of the skull.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

By written appointment only.

No photocopying permitted.

• anglais

• latin

English

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais