(1632; The Hague, Mauritshuis)
Painted by Rembrandt, the work is a group portrait of members of the Surgeons' Guild in Amsterdam witnessing a demonstration given by Dr. Nicolaes Tulp during a human dissection. Dr. Tulp lectures on the movement of the fingers and the response of tendons, bones, and muscles to that movement. Viewers are made to feel as if they have interrupted the lecture, as three of the men depicted turn to look in our direction. The lighting in the work is typical of Rembrandt's style. It is a golden glow stemming from a hidden source that illuminates the corpse and the faces of those present. While the backdrop is a fully developed room, it remains darkened so that the focus is on the men and Dr. Tulp's actions.
Historical dictionary of Renaissance art. Lilian H. Zirpolo. 2008.