Heads of Dr. Gross and Dr. Barton: Studies for "The Gross Clinic"

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Heads of Dr. Gross and Dr. Barton: Studies for "The Gross Clinic"

1876

Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916)

After finishing his heroic painting Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic) (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2007-1-1), Eakins prepared an ink wash replica that would be sent to Europe to serve as the basis for high-quality black-and-white photographic reproductions. These drawings of the heads of Dr. Gross (on the left) and his assistant in the operating clinic, Dr. Barton, show the artist experimenting with different ink and watercolor techniques to replicate the effects of the painting. Eakins created the final version of the replica, made at the same scale as these drawings, in the brush style-the same style he used to render the head of Dr. Barton on this sheet.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Heads of Dr. Gross and Dr. Barton: Studies for "The Gross Clinic"

Date:

1876

Artist:

Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916)

Medium:

Pen and black ink, ink wash and traces of graphite, on cream wove paper squared for transfer in graphite

Dimensions:

Sheet: 12 1/16 x 15 1/8 inches (30.6 x 38.4 cm)

Classification:

Drawings

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. Thomas Eakins and Miss Mary Adeline Williams, 1930

Accession Number:

1930-32-1

Geography:

Made in United States, North and Central America

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