“Science twinned with Art”: The anatomical sculptor Laureano Coll Soler (1856–1916)

Abstract

This article explores the life and work of the anatomical sculptor Laureano Coll Soler (1856–1916), one of the most significant figures in anatomical sculpture in Spain during the second half of the nineteenth century. At a time when three-dimensional anatomical models were essential to medical education, Spain stood out for the systematic employment of anatomical sculptors in its medical schools. Despite their importance, these professionals received limited recognition, and much of their output has been dispersed or lost. Drawing on previously unpublished archival sources, historical press accounts, and the study of several museum collections, the article offers the first detailed reconstruction of Coll’s professional career and presents an initial catalogue of his sculptural production. It also attributes four works held in different collections that had previously been regarded as anonymous or of French origin, thereby contributing to a reassessment of Spain’s anatomical heritage. Trained as both a medical doctor and an artist, and active as an anatomical sculptor as well as an amateur photographer, Coll provides a revealing case study of the close relationship between science and art in the nineteenth century and emerges as a key figure in the history of anatomical sculpture in Spain.