[Notes about two paintings in the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine]

Two interesting mural-sized oil paintings hang in the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine in Boston. One is "The First Operation Under Ether" painted by Robert C. Hinckley in the nineteenth century, and the other is "The First Successful Kidney Transplantation" painted by Joel Babb in 1996. The theme of the former is the first operation with ether performed publicly on October 16, 1846, at the Massachusetts General Hospital. That of the latter is the first successful renal transplantation between identical twins performed at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital on December 23, 1954. "The First Operation Under Ether" was recreated by the painter, Robert Hinckley, who gathered information by himself about the event, which had occurred over three decades previously in his hometown. He seemed to have exercised some degree of artistic license in recreating the scene. On the other hand, "The First Successful Kidney Transplantation" was planned by the three doctors who were themselves involved in the memorable operation. The painter, Joel Babb, began to recreate the scene after he had been handed some sketches and photos of the event and several photos of the participants. In this case, it seems that authenticity was the main consideration.