Dr Washington Epps, My Doctor by Lawrence Alma-Tadema - 1885 - 63.50 × 50.80 cm Carnegie Museum of Art Dr Washington Epps, My Doctor by Lawrence Alma-Tadema - 1885 - 63.50 × 50.80 cm Carnegie Museum of Art

Dr Washington Epps, My Doctor

oil on canvas • 63.50 × 50.80 cm
  • Lawrence Alma-Tadema - January 8, 1836 - June 25, 1912 Lawrence Alma-Tadema 1885

With this painting we want to thank all the doctors, nurses and everyone involved in medical service. In these hard times, by combating the virus they're giving everything. THANK YOU!

Dr Epps, the artist's brother-in-law spans the entire height of the canvas. He is gently holding a woman's wrist with one hand and a watch with the other. The watch times the patient's pulse and registers the precarious nature of time itself - the pronouncement of the time of death, it seems, is imminent. Look at these hands, Epps's expression and stark colours of the painting! I love the intimacy of this painting.

P.S. Click here to get to know more about the history of medicine in art!