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Friday, March 26, 2010

Just a rainy friday...

Happy Friday, everyone! I don’t know about you, but this has been a loooong week for me. I am so ready for the weekend. Since I am a little blah today (boo to the rain) I figured why not try something new again. Anyone that knows me knows that I adore art and art history. Here are some famous paintings that highlight science…



The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, Rembrandt

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) was a Dutch painter and one of the most famous artists of all time. In this painting, Rembrandt shows off his impeccable realism and untouchable skill in oils. Dr. Tulp (in the hat) is explaining the anatomy of the arm to other doctors (all of which are real doctors that paid to be included in the painting). This painting is a recreation of a real autopsy performed on Aris Kindt, who was hanged for robbery in 1632. The muscles and tendons show in this picture are perfectly anatomically correct. It is still unknown how Rembrandt gained his anatomical knowledge.



The Astronomer, Johannes Vermeer

Vermeer (1632-1675) was another master of Dutch painting. In this work he shows an astronomer looking over the globe, maps and, obviously, the bible. It is believed that the man in the painting is Anton von Leeuwenhook – the Father of Microbiology. Leeuwenhook made vast improvements on the microscope and was the first to describe single celled organisms.



An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, Joseph Derby



A Philosopher giving a Lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place of the Sun, Joseph Derby

Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-1797) has become one of the most famous British painters and is accredited with being the first artist to capture “the spirit of the Industrial Revolution”. His paintings captivate and pull the viewer into the drama. He was known to push away from the artist norms and standards of the time and these two paintings show this – there are no mythical or historical figures here. Notice his use of candle light to illuminate his subjects.


The Gross Clinic, Thomas Eakins

Thomas Eakins (1844-1916) was an American artist who studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts as well as the Jefferson Medical College. He studied human anatomy and had a passion for scientific realism.

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