Dissection lesson. Engraving of a dissection lesson being given by Italian anatomist Bartolo- mmeo Eustachio (1520-74). Dissection lessons in the 16th century were a great improvement over those of the previous centuries. For the first time, the lecturers performed the dissection them- selves rather than using an unskilled cutter to do the work. As a result, the lecturers studied human anatomy more closely and made a number of discoveries. Eustachio made studies of several organs, particularly the kidneys. He drew a series of remarkable anatomical illustrations but these remained largely undiscovered until the 18th century. Engraving from about 1550.