Broadside: Various Infirmities of Horses - Unidentified Artist

A 1579 Italian woodcut broadside providing a diagnostic guide to equine health, featuring a central horse diagram with numbered anatomical references.

This broadside, printed in Bologna in 1579, functions as a visual manual for equine health. The central figure is a horse depicted in profile, surrounded by a series of numbered circles. Each circle corresponds to a specific anatomical location on the animal, indicating where various ailments might manifest. The lines radiating from these points connect the physical form of the horse to the surrounding text, which provides diagnostic information and suggested remedies for each condition. The print reflects the sixteenth-century approach to veterinary medicine, where practical knowledge was often disseminated through single-sheet publications. These broadsides were intended for stable masters, farriers, and horse owners who required quick reference guides. The woodcut technique allows for clear, schematic lines, prioritising the legibility of the anatomical markers over artistic flourish. The horse is rendered with a focus on structural clarity, ensuring that the viewer can easily identify the specific areas of concern. Below the central illustration, the text is organised into columns, detailing the nature of the infirmities and the corresponding treatments. The language used is typical of the period, combining traditional herbal remedies with the prevailing medical theories of the time. As a historical document, this print offers insight into the relationship between human utility and animal care during the late Renaissance. It captures a moment when scientific observation began to be codified into accessible, printed formats for a wider audience. The composition is strictly functional, using the horse as a diagrammatic tool rather than a subject for aesthetic study. This piece remains a clear example of how technical information was communicated before the standardisation of modern veterinary textbooks.