What you are looking at
The surgeon Nicolaes Tulp, in a broad black hat, shows the muscles of a dead man's forearm to seven members of the Amsterdam surgeons' guild, who lean in to look.
Why it is famous
Rembrandt painted it in 1632, when he was in his mid twenties, and it made his name in Amsterdam. Instead of lining the men up for a group portrait, he showed them reacting to a real lesson.
How big is The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp?
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp measures 169.5 × 216.5 cm (66.7 × 85.2 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 9 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work.
More by Rembrandt
Also at the Mauritshuis
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp?
Rembrandt painted The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp in 1632.
Where is The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp?
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is in the Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands.
How big is The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp?
169.5 × 216.5 cm (66.7 × 85.2 in). Its surface is about 9 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q661378; Wikipedia, "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.