[ROGER DE PILES] || [TORTEBAT, François]. Abrégé d’anatomie accommodé aux arts de peinture et de sculpture. 1760.

Piles, who used the pseudonym François Tortebat, was especially noted for his writings and skill as a painter and engraver.
However his chief occupation was that of a diplomat and, at one time, he was the French ambassador to Spain.
Piles first issued these reproductions from Vesalius' works at Paris in 1667.
Intended primarily for artists, his work was preceded only by that of Jacob van der Gracht (1593-1647), the Flemish painter and engraver, who also modeled his figures after those of Vesalius.
However, authorities concede that Piles' book contains the most beautiful reproductions ever made from Vesalius' works. The ten plates in this little-known printing include four muscle figures from the Epitome with the remaining six. In contrast to the Vesalian figures, Piles' figures are reversed in direction and the picturesque backgrounds have been omitted.