the anatomy lesson (Nina Siegal)

The Anatomy Lesson

A single day in 1632. This is the story behind Rembrandt's famous painting called like the title of the novel, the medical dissection done by Dr. Tulp.

The story is narrated from different perspectives by an omninscient narrator, retelling the lives of the different characters that were touched by the creation of this piece of art.

The chapters are divided into the already mentioned sections. The eyes displays Rembrandt's ideas about the assigment asked by the doctor, which arise doubts and moral issues to the painter.

The hands portrays Dr. Tulp's anticipation towards this event that could change the story of medicine, positioning him in the possibility to become a mastermind in the realm of the sciences.

The body presents the day of Aris The Kid, the petty robber that is condemn to be hanged and whose body is going to be dissected by Dr. Tulp. Although his crimes are not important enough for him being condemned, the necessity of having a body for the event make his death inevitable.

The heart displays Aris The Kid's lover Flora, who is pregnant carrying his baby although they were not married. Her house is stoned by the neighbourhood children, as the town called her a witch. She is going to try to save Aris, or at least to recover his body to give him Christian burial.

The mouth is the section that portrays the life of Fetchet, the man that is in charged of getting bodies fro the doctors of the city. He also tries to get  extravagant  animals and objects for painters such as Rembrandt, for their paintings.

The mind is the presentation of Descartes's thoughts as the doctor asked him to witness the dissection and to share his ideas with him. Descartes is trying to find where the human soul is, anxiously expecting that Dostor Tulp's work will give him some answers.

This is a novel that the reader has to build following the different lines of the plot, enjoying the complex features of the characters and the astounding display of the city of Amsterdam. This story narrates the behind-the-scenes of  the creation of a masterpiece that will be admired through the centuries.

Ana Ovejero

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