Visiting the Exquisite Bodies exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London put me in mind of Gunther von Hagens' controversial Body Worlds displays.

Exquisite Bodies, subtitled "the curious and grotesque story of the anatomical model", charts the rising popularity of museums displaying these wax models in the 19th century. Ordinary folk visited to learn about the body's internal workings, but also to entertain themselves and perhaps to slake a morbid curiosity.

Medical professionals cautiously welcomed the craze; there were growing concerns about the availability of cadavers for dissection at the time, and anatomical models provided a bloodless solution.

However, the success of these museums was short-lived, as they were attacked by moral campaigners and faced prosecution for obscenity.

The story is reminiscent of von Hagens', whose controversial Body Worlds exhibitions and public autopsies undoubtedly have educational value, but also carry undertones of sensationalism. Critics include the Catholic and Protestant churches, MPs, and ethical campaigners. Some say the exhibitions are closer to art than science, and that von Hagens does not respect the importance of death. He has also been accused of using bodies of executed Chinese prisoners, although this has not been proven.

The furore reached a pinnacle this year when the German anatomist and entrepreneur arranged two bodies to look like they were having sex. The stunt was criticised for breaking taboos just to make money, instead of aiming to advance scientific knowledge.

There is no argument that von Hagens' "plastinated" bodies have captured the public imagination, attracting over 26 million visitors so far. But how many of these people are hoping to be educated about the human body, and how many are going for more macabre reasons? Is von Hagens a scientific pioneer or just cannily tapping into the darker side of human nature? One thing the Exquisite Bodies exhibition showed is that these fascinations are nothing new – they have just become more lifelike.