The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Deijman

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Deijman (alternative spelling Deyman) is a 1656 fragmentary painting by Rembrandt, now in Amsterdam Museum.

Much of the canvas was destroyed in a fire in 1723 and the painting was subsequently recut to its present dimensions, though a preparatory sketch shows the full group.

The painting shows Dr. Deijman performing a brain dissection on the cadaver of an executed criminal, the Flemish tailor Joris "Black Jan" Fonteijn (1633/34–1656), a habitual offender who had robbed a textile store with a knife resulting in his execution by hanging.

[1] Dr. Deijman's assistant, the surgeon Gijsbert Calkoen (1621–1664), is seen on the left, holding the top of the dead man's skull.

Subsequently, his body was made available to surgeons for three days for their training, and he was buried on February 2 at the Zuiderkerkhof.

Preparatory sketch for the work.