Clarice Ashworth Francone (1901-1981) worked as the first staff medical illustrator at the University of Oregon Medical School (now OHSU) for over thirty years. Mentored by the "father of medical illustration" in the U.S., Max Brödel, Francone forged her own path as a woman artist in an emerging professional field. In her decades-long career, Francone instructed students on the art of scientific illustration, drew surgical procedures from direct observation, and co-authored several books with OHSU faculty—a rare accomplishment for a medical illustrator.  

Drawing from a substantial collection of Francone's medical illustrations in Historical Collections & Archives, a new OHSU Library exhibit displays sketches, finished works, book illustrations and more. Stop by the BICC Library 3rd floor entrance now through October 2025 to see the artwork in person.

Need more anatomical art in your day? Over 1,400 works from the Clarice Ashworth Francone medical illustration collection have been digitized and are now available online in OHSU’s Digital Collections.