The theme of surgery in Western painting

In the periods preceding the Renaissance, works focusing on the relationship between medicine and art were rather scarce. The endeavors of this era primarily consisted of depictions portraying medical interventions or treatment methodologies. However, the Renaissance period witnessed a significant transformation in the interplay between medicine and art, largely influenced by the Enlightenment movements. This era marked a notable advancement in the studies related to human anatomy. This progress paved the way for artistic creations that encapsulated medical themes. Particularly, there was an increase in artistic works detailing scenes of surgeries, cadaver examinations, and intricate surgical procedures. By the mid-19th century, the discovery of anesthesia brought about a substantial revolution in surgical practices. The utilization of anesthesia rendered surgeries less painful, thereby enabling more complex and prolonged surgical procedures. Surgeons during this period began to intervene in ailments in ways previously deemed unfeasible. This medical breakthrough also left its mark on the realm of art, leading to the emergence of artworks centered around surgical themes. The focal point of this thesis work resides in the examination of artworks within the Western tradition of painting that revolve around the theme of surgery.