Thomas Eakins The Gross Clinic

“The Gross Clinic” is an oil painting that was painted by Thomas Eakins in 1875. Thomas Eakins was born in Philadelphia in 1844. His father being a writer education and the arts were very important to his family. After graduating from Philadelphia’s Central High School Eakins enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He focused on painting the human figure more than anything else, he even went to visit many anatomy classes and dissections. One of the classes he went to see at Jefferson Medical College would lead to his painting of “The Gross Clinic”.

The Gross Clinic: Who Is In the Picture?

Not a painting for the faint of heart, or those who feel uncomfortable about surgeries. The center of this painting, which is an awe inspiring

8ft by 6ft, is Dr. Samuel D. Gross, he is twisted toward his students a look of confidence and determination on his face. This was a time in American history where new surgeries, treatments and medicines were being discovered. Although these new discoveries could potentially save lives, they were often dangerous and most times gorey. The painting is set in a surgical room at Jefferson Medical College, where Dr. Gross and his team of doctors are performing a new surgery on a man legs(Art). You can see students sitting in the rows behind the surgery, watching and taking notes. You can also see Thomas Eakins himself, observing the scene as well. Also depicted in the picture, is a woman (either the wife or mother of the patient presumably considering she is not in a nurses uniform), she is hiding her face from the gruesome sight of the leg being cut open (Art). The surgery being done was actually one that Gross had an expertise in, removing dead tissue from an appendage with a bone infection (Art). The woman's squeamishness seems to parallel Gross’s confidence. This also could represent the two social views on Gross’s medical practices and revolutionary views. Some people may have confidence in the new found procedures and some may shield themselves from these new ideas.
The Elements
Thomas Eakins was able to capture the human form in the most breathtaking of ways.

He knows how to utilize and manipulate certain elements of art so the viewers eyes are drawn to certain places on the painting. This is also called emphasis. Thomas Eakins utilizes emphasis by using contrasting colors around Dr. Gross in the painting. Most of the painting is relatively dark except for the area around Dr. Gross and his patient. Our eyes are almost immediately drawn to the bright red blood on the doctor's hand, there are not many bold colors in this painting, the bright red grabs the onlookers attention. Eakin’s also uses light to his advantage, in this painting it is seen as you look at Dr. Gross’s stoic face the light is reflecting off his determined demeanor, thus reinforcing him as the focal point of the portrait. Certain elements of art can work together to make our eyes see certain parts of a painting in the sequence the artist wanted us too. Artists are very deliberate with their work, every stroke, color, figure is carefully chosen. Eakins paired emphasis and light together to continually bring the viewer's eye back to Dr.

Gross.
Now some may wonder why have the doctor and not the patient as a focal point of a painting about surgery, the reason for this being is because of Thomas Eakin’s immense respect for the surgeon and his teacher, Dr. Samuel D. Gross. It is clear in this picture that Eakins holds Gross in high regard, he paints him in almost a majestic way. Although he is older and fully clothed, his facial expression reminds one of a greek God, powerful, stoic and knowledge. The harden expression demands respect and attention. Greeks usually painted leaders like God, rulers, king, etc. Eakin’s painted a different kind of a leader, a medical revolutionary. Eakins also manipulates the element of motion. Behind Thomas in the scene there are students craning their necks and leaning over their desks to listen to Dr. Gross’s lecture and to see what he was doing to the patient. You can always see the woman, once again, hiding her facing turning away from the patient. Eakin’s gesturing to his students with the full confidence of a successful surgery. The way that Eakins portrayed the students around him makes one realize he knew what they did. That Dr. Gross’s words were valuable and one should pay mind to what he is saying. It interested me to realize how an artist could translate their respect for someone and their work onto a canvas.
A Beloved Philadelphian Artist
Thomas Eakins in his life did not receive the credit he so rightfully deserved, like many artists he was not recognized until he passed away.

He is know recognized as one of the most famous American artists. “The Gross Clinic” Can be seen at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. the painting was originally in Thomas Jefferson University, but the school had to sell it in order to fund more educational opportunities. The painting was going to be sold to a WalMart heiress in partnership with a museum in Washington. However, many Philadelphia donors thought it was important “that this great work of art stay right here in our city.”(The Washington Post). I personally am incredibly grateful that Thomas Eakins “The Gross Clinic” is still housed in Philadelphia. Being a nursing major it is always interesting to see artistic portrayals as something as gruesome as surgery. It is amazing how a person can take a potentially terrifying event and make it into something beautiful. Eakins is one of the artists Philadelphians should be proud to have shared a home with, he used the elements of motion, light and emphasis to create beautiful works that portray the human body in a fascinating and sometimes haunting

way.