Born: 21 January 1714, Italy
Died: 9 July 1774
Country most active: Italy
Also known as: Anna Morandi
The following is excerpted from the Prospetto biografico delle donne italiane rinomate in letteratura dal secolo decimoquarto fino a’ giorni nostri di Ginevra Canonici Fachini (Biographical Survey of Italian Women Renowned in Literature from the Fourteenth Century to the Present Day by Ginevra Canonici Fachini), published in 1824 and made available by Project Gutenberg.
Menzolini – Morandi, Anna, di Bologna. N. 1717. M. 1774.
Fu Pittrice, Scultrice ed Anatomica, e per più anni copri nella Università di Bologna la cattedra d’ Anatomia, della quale intraprese Io studio difficile per giovare al marito con opportuni ajuti. Fu distintissima tra’ primi ne’ lavori anatomici in cera, e da se sola formò la dimostrazione delle grandi opere della natura, cominciando dall’aborto di un mese fin all’uomo pervenuto alla età di anni 50, oltre molte altre opere utilissime. Fu aggregata all’Accademia delle Scienze dell’ Istituto di Bologna, all’Accademia Clementina, alla Società Letteraria di Foligno, all’ Accademia di Disegno di Firenze. Fu invitata a Milano, a Londra, a Pietroburgo, ma ricusando sempre di abbandonare la patria si limitò a spedire molti saggi de’ suoi lavori in cera alle estere Corti.
Fantuzzi, Scritt. Bologn. T. VI.
Nuovo Dizion. Stor. T. XII. Bassano, 1796.
Menzolini – Morandi, Anna, of Bologna. B. 1717. D. 1774.
She was a painter, sculptor, and anatomist, and for many years held the chair of Anatomy at the University of Bologna, undertaking the arduous study to benefit her husband with timely assistance. She was among the first to excel in wax anatomical works, and single-handedly created demonstrations of the great works of nature, from a month’s abortion to a man at the age of 50, among many other very useful works. She was a member of the Academy of Sciences of the Bologna Institute, the Clementine Academy, the Literary Society of Foligno, and the Academy of Drawing in Florence. She was invited to Milan, London, and St. Petersburg, but, always refusing to abandon her homeland, she limited herself to sending many samples of her wax works to foreign courts.
Fantuzzi, Scritt. Bologn. T. VI.
New Historical Dictionary T. XII. Bassano, 1796.