Surgery: a doctoral candidate defending a thesis in surgery at the Académie Royale de Chirurgie, Paris. Etching by P.F. Tardieu after C. Eisen, 1751.

Attributes of surgery are present: skeletons pull back curtains to reveal the scene; cupids practise bloodletting (below left) and amputation of the leg (below right) Above, a medallion to Apollo Salutaris, in which Apollo shows surgical instruments to Hygieia while she points to symbols of anatomy and pharmacy