Look at the attached document (Thomas Eakins, painter of famous American surgeons.pptx). The two oil paintings are very famous American art works by Thomas Eakins that are now part of a special exhibit at the Philadelphia Institute of Art. These were commissioned works to celebrate the work of 2 famous professors- surgeons of the time. Nowadays, one might use photography, which was just emerging at the time.

The first one, The Gross Clinic, was painted in 1875 (this is a very famous piece of art worth at one point $64 million); the second one, The Agnew Clinic, was painted in 1889.

Taking into account that these depict the best surgeries of the time in the US, comment on the standards of care at the top of the medical profession at each date. Are you pleased with what observed; does it look normal to you? Would this be acceptable nowadays in a top hospital in the city? Why?

The 2 scenes are 14 years apart at the same hospital. Are there any changes? is so, which ones and why do you think these changes were made.

What does this tell you about the evolution of scientific knowledge at the end of the 19th century? What kind of theory was put forth at that time and is illustrated here?