TheOldMastersPrintsThe Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt: meaning, location and key facts
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is an oil on canvas by Rembrandt, painted in 1632. It measures 169.5 × 216.5 cm and is held at the Mauritshuis, The Hague.
Key facts
| Artist | Rembrandt |
|---|---|
| Date | 1632 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 169.5 × 216.5 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Mauritshuis, The Hague |
| Style | Dutch Golden Age |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q661378) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
Dr Nicolaes Tulp explains the anatomy of the forearm to seven members of the Amsterdam surgeons’ guild. With forceps he lifts the flexor muscles, and with his other hand he mimics the gesture those muscles make possible.
It was the guild’s annual public dissection, in January 1632, on the body of Aris Kindt, an executed thief. Rembrandt was 26 and this commission established him as the city’s leading portraitist.
Did you know?
- Instead of lining up the sitters, Rembrandt groups them in a pyramid of gazes converging on the dissected arm.
- The sheet held by one of the surgeons lists the names of those present, added later.
- King William I of the Netherlands bought it in 1828 for the Mauritshuis.
Where to see the original
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is at the Mauritshuis, The Hague. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp?
- The original is held at the Mauritshuis, The Hague.
- How big is The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp?
- The original painting measures 169.5 × 216.5 cm (height × width).
- Who painted The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp and when?
- It was painted by Rembrandt in 1632.
- Can I hang a reproduction of The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €54.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
