Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What kinds of subjects did Thomas Eakins paint after returning to Philadelphia in 1870?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Thomas Eakins
Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic), oil on canvas by Thomas Eakins, 1875; part of the collections of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Art Museum. 2 × 2.5 m.
After returning to Philadelphia in 1870, Thomas Eakins focused on subjects drawn from his own life and immediate surroundings, maintaining a commitment to candid realism. His work during this period can be categorized into several key themes:1
- Family and Domestic Life: His earliest subjects included intimate portraits of his sisters, family members, and the family of his fiancée, Kathrin Crowell. These works captured personal, domestic moments, such as ladies at the piano or children with toys.1
- Outdoor Sports and Recreation: Eakins frequently painted the vigorous outdoor activities he enjoyed, including rowing, hunting, sailing, fishing, and swimming. His rowing scenes, such as The Champion Single Sculls (Max Schmitt in a Single Scull), were particularly prominent between 1870 and 1874.12
- Professional and Contemporary Life: Eakins was deeply interested in the human figure and contemporary reality. This led to significant works depicting medical professionals at work, most notably his masterpiece, The Gross Clinic (1875), which portrayed Dr. Samuel Gross operating in a surgical amphitheater.34
- Human Anatomy and Motion: His fascination with anatomy and locomotion eventually expanded to include studies of horses in motion and, in later years, boxing scenes.3