The Agnew Clinic

Currently not on view

The Agnew Clinic

1893

Artist/maker unknown After Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916)

Before Eakins sent his painting The Agnew Clinic to be exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, he published a reproduction of his work in 1889, the year the painting was completed. Since photographic processes at the time made warm colors too dark and cold colors too light, he decided he had to paint a special black-and-white version of the painting to be photographed. The photogravure of this version, shown here, is now extremely rare. It shows Dr. David Hayes Agnew, his assistants, nurse Mary Clymer--an 1889 graduate of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania--and an audience of medical students, none of whom wear surgical masks or protective clothing while the operation is taking place.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

The Agnew Clinic

Date:

1893

Artists:

Artist/maker unknown After Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916)

Medium:

Photogravure

Dimensions:

Image: 7 7/8 × 11 5/16 inches (20 × 28.7 cm) Sheet: 8 1/8 × 11 5/8 inches (20.7 × 29.5 cm)

Classification:

Photographs

Credit Line:

Gift of Samuel B. Sturgis, 1973

Accession Number:

1973-268-190

Geography:

Made in United States, North and Central America

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Currently not on view