Medieval graphic novel

La Chirurgie: Codex Sloane 1977 is a full color facsimile of a unique 13th century illuminated French medical atlas. At first glance, it looks like a medieval graphic novel.

Many of its 28 pages contain a three panel by three panel grid of framed scenes with human figures on alternating blue and red background. The top row on each of these pages are Christian scenes from “Annunciation to Christ’s Resurrection.” The next two rows on each of these pages are “scenes between surgeon and patient, which depict medical problems ranging from cranial fracture to wounds on other parts of the body, dislocated shoulders, and infections.”

This codex (i.e. an ancient book made of stacked, hand-written pages, usually bound along one edge) is strikingly beautiful and full of potential research topics, such as medical attitudes, gender politics, and history of bookmaking. It can be viewed in the Archives and Special Collections. You will need the collection name and call number – Health Sciences Rare Books WO 5 B862 1977.

Quotes from Whittington, Karl. “Picturing Christ as Surgeon and Patient in British Library MS Sloane 1977.” In Mediaevalia, Volume 35. 2014. Pages 83-115.