Johann Christian Gustav Lucae

From 1833 he studied medicine at the universities of Marburg and Würzburg, receiving his doctorate at Marburg in 1839. After graduation he settled as a general practitioner in his hometown of Frankfurt. Beginning in 1845 he worked as a lecturer of pathology at the Senckenberg Institute of Anatomy. From 1851 he taught classes in anatomy and subsequently became director of the institute, a position he maintained up until his death. In 1863 he obtained the title of professor, and in 1869 began teaching anatomy classes at the Städel Art Institute.[1][2]

Skeleton of a lemur in Die Statik und Mechanik der Quadrupeden (1883).

In collaboration with sculptor Eduard Schmidt von der Launitz, he developed improved methods for drawing anatomical objects.[1][2]

Lucae was one of the 56 founding members of the Freies Deutsches Hochstift (Free German Foundation).[3]

• Schädelzeichnungen, 1840 – – Anatomical drawings of skulls.
• Zur Morphologie des Säugethier-Schädels, 1872 – The morphology of mammal skulls.
• Affen- und Menschenschädel im Bau und Wachsthum verglichen, 1873 – Monkey and human skulls in construction and growth compared.
• Zur Morphologie der Rassen-Schädel, einleitende Bemerkungen und Beiträge; ein Sendschreiben an Carl Ernst v. Baer, 1876 – The morphology of racial skulls; Introductory remarks and contributions; a missive to Karl Ernst von Baer.
• Die Robbe und die Otter (Phoca vitulina und Lutra vulgaris) : in ihrem Knochen-und Muskel-skelet, 1876 – The seal and the otter (Lutra vulgaris and Phoca vitulina): involving bone and musculoskeleton.
• Die statik und mechanik der quadrupeden an dem skelet und den muskeln eines lemur und eines choloepus, 1883 – The statics and mechanics of quadrupeds ... the skeleton and muscles of lemurs and Choloepus.[4][5]