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The Anatomical Theater of the University of Leiden

Willem van Swanenburg Netherlandish
Publisher Published by Andreas Cloucquius Dutch
1610
Not on view
This print documents one of the first permanent anatomy theaters to be established in Europe. Opening in 1597 at the University of Leiden, which had only been established some twenty years earlier, the theater--used for public dissections and as a cabinet of scientific curiosities--rendered this institution of higher learning one of the most forward-looking in Europe, in the very years that the rise of empiricism would begin to transform medical practice. Notably, this was the place of study of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, who would, in 1632, be immortalized in the act of delivering an anatomy lesson in a now-famous painting by Rembrandt (Mauritshuis, The Hague).

The image fuses the documentary with allegory. Skeletons gesture and hold flags, underscoring the celebratory nature of this print, part of a series dedicated to Leiden's university, the others depicting its library, fencing school, and botanical gardens.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Anatomical Theater of the University of Leiden
  • Artist: Willem van Swanenburg (Netherlandish, ca. 1581/82–1612)
  • Artist: After Jan Cornelis Woudanus (Dutch, ca. 1570–1615)
  • Publisher: Published by Andreas Cloucquius (Dutch)
  • Date: 1610
  • Medium: Etching
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 12 7/8 × 15 7/16 in. (32.7 × 39.2 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Purchase, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2026
  • Object Number: 2026.566
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
Typographic Title Page with a Vignette Depicting the Allegorical Figure of Justice, from "Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis...", Willem van Swanenburg Netherlandish, Letterpress and engraving
Typographic Title Page with a Vignette Depicting the Allegorical Figure of Justice, from "Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis..."
Multiple artists/makers
1606
Soprano Recorder in B, Thomas Coenraet Boekhout Dutch, Ebony, ivory, Dutch
Soprano Recorder in B
Thomas Coenraet Boekhout
ca. 1700
Nocturne: Palaces, James McNeill Whistler American, Etching and drypoint; printed in dark brown ink on drum mounted medium weight ivory laid paper.
Nocturne: Palaces
James McNeill Whistler
1879–80
Allegory of Justice (Sanctity of the Law) with a court scene depicting a man being pardoned by a judge, plate XII from "Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis...", Willem van Swanenburg Netherlandish, Engraving
Allegory of Justice (Sanctity of the Law) with a court scene depicting a man being pardoned by a judge, plate XII from "Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis..."
Willem van Swanenburg
After Joachim Wtewael
Publisher Christoffel van Sichem II
1605
Pair of Stirrups, Iron, gold, Netherlandish
Pair of Stirrups
Netherlandish
first half 17th century

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