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Summary:THE ANATOMY LESSON OF DOCTOR JAN DEYMAN: IT WAS A GREAT TEST OF A YOUNG ARTIST IN AMSTERDAM TO BE ASKED TO PAINT A FORMAL GROUP PORTRAIT OF PHYSICIANS GATHERED OVER A DEAD BODY. PHYSICIANS TOOK THEMSELVES SERIOUSLY, AND AN ANATOMY LESSON WAS A RARE AND SOLEMN OCCASION. JOSEPH HELLER HAS CHOSEN AN ANATOMY LESSON BY REMBRANDT WHERE, BY AN ACCIDENT OF HISTORY, ALMOST ALL THESE POMPOUS SPECTATORS HAVE BEEN BURNED AWAY. IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY A GREAT FIRE SWALLOWED MOST OF THE PAINTING. EVEN THE HEAD OF THE CHIEF ANATOMIST WENT UP IN SMOKE. WHAT REMAINS, DEAD CENTRE, IS THE OPENED BODY OF A CRIMINAL HANGED THE DAY BEFORE STEALING A COAT.
Description:JOSEPH HELLER INTRODUCES 5 PAINTINGS BY REMBRANDT