The painted Amsterdam anatomy lessons: Anatomy performances in dissecting rooms?

Abstract

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, painted by Rembrandt in 1632, has recently been fully restored. From 02-10-98 to 10-01-99 this painting and some other Amsterdam painted anatomy lessons were exhibited in the Mauritshuis in The Hague, with the title "Rembrandt under the scalpel". The unique Tulp painting is one of those portraits painted in the tradition of the famous group portraits which flourished in 17th-century Holland, a predominantly urban, middle-class society where the main patrons of the arts were the leading citizens of the various towns. Moreover, it is a portrait in the tradition of the anatomy lessons especially painted for the Guild of Surgeons for their Guild Room. Nine such lessons have been painted for the guild and are still to be found in Dutch museums (Mauritshuis and Amsterdam Historical Museum). The anatomy lesson of Prof. Andreas Bonn, dated 1792, as well as some group portraits of the leading persons of the guild also play an important role in the Amsterdam group portraits. In 1925 the Amsterdam anatomist Louis Bolk commissioned Martin Monnickendam to paint another anatomy lesson. The restoration of the painting of Dr. Tulp has provided new information concerning the original composition of Rembrandt and the later additions. However, from an anatomical point of view, it is doubtful whether the Amsterdam anatomy lessons depict a real contemporary anatomical demonstration. They provide, together with archival sources, reliable information about the praelectores anatomiae and the leading persons of the guild, but fail to give much information about the dissecting room, the anatomy theatre or the procedure. The anatomical demonstration procedures of the guild are discussed in relation to the painted anatomy lessons.