2007: Francis Wells, Cambridge, Storbritannien

”The Mathematical Heart: Why we should take Leonardo da Vinci seriously in the 21st Century.”

Francis Wells är vid sidan om läkaryrket en välkänd Leonardo da Vinci kännare och föreläser om konstnärens tidiga insikter om hjärtats anatomi och fysiologi.

After gaining the gold medal and an honours B.Sc degree in the basic medical sciences in London University, I completed my medical education at Charing Cross Hospital. My higher surgical education was gained in a series of surgical rotations based in Cambridge University for my General surgery and Transplantation experience and then the National heart, Bromton and London Chest hospitals for my cardiac surgical training.

Following this I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Senior Research fellowship at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama with one of the great pioneers of Cardiac Surgery, Dr. John Kirklin; my work being assisted by a Fulbright Scholarship. From this I produced work for a Masters degree in Surgery, awarded by the University of London. This work was also recognised for a Hunterian Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons, London.

Prior to leaving for my year in Alabama I had been appointed proleptically to a Consultant position at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge where I work as a consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon and specialise in Heart valve reconstrution, and intrathoracic surgical oncology (Lung Cancer etc.) I have a teaching and research role and have published many papers and several books.

My interest in “the Arts” is long-standing in both music and Art. I have played the piano from an early age and painted and drawn with much enthusiasm and little talent for as long as I can remember. My interest in both the Renaissance and the act of drawing are long standing. The accuracy and Beauty of the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci are of particular interest and fascination. The work to be presented is extracted highlights from the culmination of many years of private study; work that has only seen the light of day since my great good fortune in meeting and associating with Professor Martin Kemp (the accepted international expert in Leonardo scholarship.