[The Gross Clinic--portrait of a pioneer]

THE GROSS CLINIC: is an 1875 painting by Thomas Eakins which is counted among the world's most famous doctor's portraits. This picture became more topical when it was sold to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for 68 million USD in 2006. We here present aspects of how this picture can help to document surgical practice in the USA at the time it was made. A comparison with a later doctor's portrait, THE AGNEW CLINIC: painted by Eakins in 1889, : shows that many changes occurred during a short time in the end of the 19 th century. This is especially the case within infection prevention, anaesthesia and development of the surgical profession as such. From an art historical perspective it has been common to compare the portrait with the old masters' group portraits of surgeons in surgical theatres. The most known of these is Rembrandt's DR. NICOLAES TULP'S ANATOMY LECTURE: (1632). In our opinion it is more interesting to consider THE GROSS CLINIC: in connection with concomitant photographies of medical practice. The realistic motive for the painting was assessed as inappropriate and unsuitable for a piece of art at the time. Despite of this, Eakins himself regarded the picture as one of his best, and during the 20 th century THE GROSS CLINIC: has been increasingly acknowledged. Today, the picture is the piece of art that Thomas Eakins is mainly associated with.