Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist (Galaxy Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Probably few beginners have entered the Life Class with any real appreciation of skeletal structure..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very clear presentation. The schematic drawings are particularly useful in teaching introductory anatomy to students."--Terry Morrow, Texas Tech University

"I have used the book regularly for about 35 years and have found the mix of 'clinical' type renderings, clear 'muscle' charts, description and sectional graphic structural sketch pages to be excellent and to the point."--

"Very good illustrations/explanations--very helpful for students to understand such a complex system."--J.P. Manlapaz, North Virginia Community College


"An exhaustive but absorbingly interesting treatise.... The artist will find it planned and written with a completeness and orderliness which make it the perfect reference book."--Art News and Review
"Ingeniously edited, well-organized, and illustrated with almost a thousand excellent factual three-dimensional renderings."--Los Angeles Times

Product Description

To the standard material on bone and muscle has been added a section dealing with the types of human physique: a section on anatomy from birth to old age, and on death; an orientation on racial anatomy; and an analysis of facial expression.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 18, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195030958
• ISBN-13: 978-0195030952
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,793 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a hidden treasure: The highest authority in the CLASSICAL TRADITION, May 23, 2004

By	Bruce Bain "Romans 9:33/Remember Jackie Robinson" (Englewood, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Copyright 1951? Wow, what a stimulating discovery, and what fun! Besides the skeletal and musculature illustrations, "Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist" is full of Peck's own drawings of basic anatomical features. These are not just the "final" drawings, like the master prints in Hale, but the beginning "rough sketches". I find this delightful because every beginner needs some inspirational guidance in drawing's first steps. A simple rough sketch of a nose, with shading; or bones drawn as a simple hinge joint, an arm or leg.... Peck's general reduction of the human figure to basic shapes is of inestimable help. The reader may just find himself saying, "Hey, I can do THAT!!!" And that is the wonderful thing about PECK's book.

Peck has impeccable credentials and must be compared to Robert Beverly Hale. Peck's is not merely an alternate duplication of the same material Hale covers. There is a 'personal' touch in Peck; but the problem with any/all anatomy books, for beginners, is that they are simply intimidating, in their detail, their precision, their absolute realism. PECK overcomes this anatomical intimidation. I would venture that PECK ought to be included in at least the first several "drawing" books that one acquires. Sometimes it seems that several pages offer more practical instruction to a new student than entire chapters in the books coming out in recent years with gimmicky titles.

"Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist," in combination with any beginning book on figure drawing is a must. With Famous Artist's School, Willy Pogany, Walt Reed, Jack Hamm, Viktor Perard and similar instruction, any ...................
book-buyer / beginning artist will find themselves advancing steadily. I rate this in the top 4 of figure drawing books for the beginner.

The chapter on "Distinctions of Age, Sex, And Race" is highly useful. PECK may be in danger of getting shoved aside with time and the publication of new pablum texts containing nothing new or vital; but PECK has written a timeless text that commands respect. CARPE DIEM [Seize the day!] I rate this book a very deserved 5 stars*

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done. An excellent reference for the artist., January 7, 1999

By	Steven Barker "goyemanx" (Bronx, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This anatomy book covers areas of the body which other books of its type overlook. If you need to draw a knee, this book tells you how. It contains some photographs of models to give a visual reference from where the drawings were derived. If you are looking for photographs for reference, this may not be your book. The poses are straight forward and simple, giving a basic view at the human figure. It is an excellent book to have on the shelves. I own a large number of anatomy books, some sketck oriented, some photographic. This is by far the most used of my collection. I highly recommend it.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an excellent resource, November 19, 1998

By	F. Gemperle (pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This atlas of human anatomy is unlike any other 'anatomy for artists' I've ever seen; it is by far the best. It is a wealth of information about the human body. Pecks book unpacks the human body as the three dimensional and dynamic structure that it is. He covers the physics of how the body is built how it moves, grows, ages, gains weight and the distinctions of race. This book utilizes many types of drawings, paintings, photographs, and diagrams to illustrate the human body, AND it explains every muscle, the derivation of its latin name, its origin, insertion and action.