71st Table: Muscles and Sinew of the Hand (Dissection of the Forearm)

The 71st table of Govard Bidloo's anatomical atlases displays the dissection of the forearm, with particular attention paid to the muscles and sinews that connect throughout the back of the hand. the forearm has been mostly stripped of its muscular components, as the radius and ulna are clearly visible. The wrist rests upon a rolled up cloth, and the elbow is propped between a book, presumably an anatomical atlas, and a block of wood to hold it in place. The entire display is situated upon a wooden block, similar to a modern cutting board. The muscles and sinew of the hand that would normally stretch up the arm along the bones is spread and curled artfully across the page, showing Gerard de Lairesse's own artistic agency. Each of the major muscles, bones, and regions of the hand are labelled with letters which are accompanied by simple explanatory text on the alternate page.