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Jeffrey Harpeng

Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp

An old friend of mine sits at the back of the group in The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp. It is not the first painting I have found him in. He has also lived outside more than a few paintings. For a few years he lived with the painter Kim Pieters. In Rembrandt's painting Dr Tulp (formerly Dr Pietersz–excise?), a good burgher caught up in the Dutch tulip craze, investigates the flexor tendons.

arm flayed elbow down
at the anatomy lesson
... a daydream of flowers