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New Exhibition Celebrates Joseph Maclise's Bold Anatomical Art

12/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds opens a new exhibition on Joseph Maclise, a Victorian surgeon and artist.
The show features Maclise's anatomical drawings, including a notable portrait of a black man, at the intersection of anatomy, art, and power.
Curator Jack Gann notes that Maclise's work centered on black bodies and queer desire, despite racial prejudice leading to the omission of his work in the United States.

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Story summary

The Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds opens a new exhibition on Joseph Maclise, a Victorian surgeon and artist.
The show features Maclise's anatomical drawings, including a notable portrait of a black man, at the intersection of anatomy, art, and power.
Curator Jack Gann notes that Maclise's work centered on black bodies and queer desire, despite racial prejudice leading to the omission of his work in the United States.