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In 1831, the French model-maker Dr Auzoux travelled to Britain to market his “dissectible” anatomical models as alternatives to corpses, which were in short supply in British medical education. He took up residence in Leicester Square, formerly the home of the Hunter brothers’ famous school and museum, as well as a site for various forms of public entertainment. The French doctor demonstrated his detachable models to British doctors and medical societies. The case study highlights the central role of live performance for Auzoux’s marketing of his models to professional audiences. The case suggests that historians should not conflate performance with quackery, and be alert to the presence of performative practices in the medical profession.