“De humani corporis fabrica libri septem,” Andreas Vesalius, 1543.

From a Discovery list of obscure facts about postmortems, a passage about the autopsy as live performance:

“Paduan judge Marcantonio Contarini, obsessed with the anatomical drawings of Andreas Vesalius, endorsed autopsies on executed criminals; they soon became all the rage in the region. Starting in 1539, hangings were scheduled around planned autopsies, which were performed to packed houses in special theaters.”