Anatomy lesson of Dr Willem Röell.

Troost employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing light to strike the flesh and fabrics while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast renders the bodies with a tactile realism and gives the interior a three‑dimensional quality that emphasizes the gravity of the lesson.

Painted in 1728, the canvas has remained in Dutch hands, eventually entering the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. Its attribution to Troost, a noted painter of theatrical and social scenes, has been consistently affirmed by museum records.

The work belongs to a tradition of Dutch anatomy group portraits, a genre that celebrated the intersection of art, science, and civic identity. Troost’s rendering aligns with contemporary Enlightenment values, portraying learned men engaged in empirical inquiry.