The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt van Rijn (Leiden 1606 - 1669 Amsterdam) is a pivotal oil on canvas painting completed in 1632. This work was Rijn's first major commission following his move to Amsterdam and immediately established his reputation as a master portraitist. The piece depicts the annual public dissection organized by the Amsterdam Guild of Surgeons, a critical social and scientific event in the Dutch Golden Age.
The composition is highly innovative for its time, eschewing the stiff formality typical of previous group portraits. Dr. Tulp is shown actively demonstrating the muscles and tendons of the cadaver’s forearm, rather than merely posing or pointing. Seven other surgeons surround the dissection table, their attention rapt and varied, demonstrating Rijn’s skill in capturing individualized psychological states within a single narrative moment. The dramatic use of light, a characteristic of the Baroque period, highlights the living figures and the pale body of the executed criminal, Aris Kindt.
This painting not only records a specific historical event but also serves as a profound document of medical advancement and social status during the 17th century. Today, this iconic piece is a cornerstone of the Dutch masterworks housed in the Mauritshuis in The Hague. As a universally recognized image of the Dutch Golden Age, high-quality prints and reproductions derived from the public domain are widely studied by art historians and the public alike, cementing Rijn’s legacy as a revolutionary portrait painter.
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