The Gross Clinic 1875

"The Gross Clinic" (1875) by Thomas Eakins is a powerful realist painting depicting a surgery by Dr. Samuel Gross, a renowned Philadelphia surgeon. The scene is set in a lecture hall, with students and onlookers observing the procedure. Eakins’ detailed portrayal of the operation and the intensity of the scene has drawn both admiration and controversy for its unflinching realism. The painting is a testament to Eakins’ mastery of anatomical accuracy and his ability to capture the drama of the medical profession in the 19th century. It is a landmark of American art, now housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.