Teratology studies congenital anomalies, present in what were called "monsters". They somehow fascinated scholars for crossing the line and forcing the definition of what is human (Quinlan p. 600). The massive interest in the seventeenth century could be read as "Baroque taste" for visual entertainment in the "representation of monstrosities" (Premuda 1960 p. 143), while in the eighteenth century it could as well be understood as an indicator of the passage to the modern age: on the one hand, facing the monsters signified the victory of rationality over monstrosity, on the other it was the loss of wonder in the conscience. (Quinlan p. 600). In more strictly scientific terms, teratology studies the genetic causes of alteration, its appearance in the formation of the foetus. In addition, comparison with the anomaly helps to understand the correct anatomical functioning of the norm, with a comparative approach similar to that adopted in the study of animals. (Moscoso p. 358). The Library of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences of the University of Padova has one of the first books on embryology where, in fact, there is a comparison even with animal foetuses: Disquisitio anatomica de formato foetu by Walter Needham (1631–1691) from 1677 (digital copy).

This exhibition only touches on the scientific aspect, focusing on graphic representations.