An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists: 189 Plates: Enlarged Revised Edition with 85 New Plates from Leonardo, Rubens, Michelangelo, Muybridge, Vesalius, Et

This book is a very excellent source for any kind of artist who wants to learn anatomy. It starts at the basics (bone structure/skeleton) and works up through muscle and outer anatomy like skin. Although there are no words accompanying the sketches and diagrams - aside from captions - they are very clear and easy to comprehend. However, most of the pictures are of developed, athelete's muscles instead of "average" or even "below average" muscle build. It also does not include diagrams (only photos) of younger human anatomy (i.e. teenagers and young adults). Overall, this book is very handy to have around, especially if you're starting to get serious about your art.

I have been doing studies out of this book for several months and it has proven itself useful many times over in helping me learn the subtleties of human gross anatomy. The additional plates are useful in that they give you different styles to look at and evaluate. It may be outdated today, having first appeared over fifty years ago, but as a beginner this has only made it more comforting. I would hesitate to call this, or any one anatomy book, a definitive one, but it is a good choice to tote around since it's relatively small and comprehensive.

I'm not amazed that this book is still in publication. I bought the first press back in 1981 while still a junior in high school on the advice of Joe Kubert to study anatomy. It still sits in my reference today. The wealth of information that it contains should make this book cost more. The plates from Leonardo, the hand section, the muscle groups,on and on and on. This is the must have. You will not be disappointed.

I bought this book almost ten years ago for a drawing class I took. I still use it today for reference. This book has to be the most useful book I ever bought while I was a student. I have never gone back to my math or science books. But I always go back to this book. Buy it you won't regret it.

I use this book constantly for both drawing and sculpting. There is enough variety that I don't really need to reference any other books.