Dr. David Hayes Agnew
a. 1889
Thomas Eakins, a champion of American Realism, captures the legendary surgeon Dr. David Hayes Agnew in this striking study, likely created around 1889. Dressed in his surgical whites and clutching a scalpel, the doctor looks off to the side with an intense gaze that hints at the high-stakes operating room—fitting for a man who once operated on President Garfield. The loose, energetic brushstrokes on the white coat contrast sharply with the dark background, making the figure pop. An inscription in the corner reveals this was a study for a larger portrait, offering a rare glimpse into Eakins' meticulous creative process.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
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