Microcosmic Man and Planetary Correspondences

The image features a frontal view of a nude, gender-neutral figure with arms and legs outstretched, echoing a Vitruvian pose. The figure is centered within a series of nested rings that act as a coordinate system, connecting anatomical parts (such as the brain, liver, and genitalia) to specific planetary symbols (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, the Moon, and the Sun). The lines radiate from the center, emphasizing the early modern medical belief that the human body is a microcosm mirroring the celestial spheres of the macrocosm.

This print exemplifies the concept of 'correspondences' central to Renaissance natural philosophy and iatromathematics, where planetary influences were believed to govern physiological functions. It is a visual summary of the astrological medicine that underpinned much of the medical and esoteric literature in early 17th-century Europe.