Jan de Doot
Encyclopedia
Jan de Doot is the subject of a painting from 1655 by Carel van Savoyen
. It shows de Doot, a smith, holding in one hand a kitchen knife, and in the other a large bladder stone the size and shape of an egg, set in gold. This 17th century Dutch blacksmith is said to have performed a successful lithotomy
on himself in 1651. The painting is part of the Portrait Collection of the Laboratory of Pathology
, which is part of the University of Leiden.
The story on which the painting is based is from Nicolaes Tulp
's book entitled Observationes medicae
(1672 edition). In this book, which is a list of 231 'cases' from the Amsterdam
practice of Dr. Tulp, the smith is named Joannes Lethaeus, which was a latinized version of de Doot's name (Doot means 'dead' in Dutch). It is not clear from the story if he lived long afterwards.
Here is the text:
Observations, Book IV, Chapter 31. Wherein a patient cuts a stone out of himself.
Carel van Savoyen
Carel van Savoyen , also known as Carlo da Savoia, was a Flemish painter of the Baroque period.-Biography:He was the brother of the painter Filips van Savoyen. He became betrothed on 20 April 1649 with Catharina Wandelman, saying then he was 28 years of age, and from then on lived and painted in...
. It shows de Doot, a smith, holding in one hand a kitchen knife, and in the other a large bladder stone the size and shape of an egg, set in gold. This 17th century Dutch blacksmith is said to have performed a successful lithotomy
Lithotomy
Lithotomy from Greek for "lithos" and "tomos" , is a surgical method for removal of calculi, stones formed inside certain hollow organs, such as the kidneys , bladder , and gallbladder , that cannot exit naturally through the urinary system or biliary tract...
on himself in 1651. The painting is part of the Portrait Collection of the Laboratory of Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, which is part of the University of Leiden.
The story on which the painting is based is from Nicolaes Tulp
Nicolaes Tulp
Nicolaes Tulp was a Dutch surgeon and mayor of Amsterdam. Tulp was well known for his upstanding moral character.-Life:...
's book entitled Observationes medicae
Observationes Medicae (Tulp)
Observationes Medicae is the title commonly used by early Dutch doctors in the 16th and 17th centuries who wrote up their cases from private practise in Latin to share with contemporary colleagues. This is therefore a common title, but this page is devoted to the 1641 book by Nicolaes Tulp...
(1672 edition). In this book, which is a list of 231 'cases' from the Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
practice of Dr. Tulp, the smith is named Joannes Lethaeus, which was a latinized version of de Doot's name (Doot means 'dead' in Dutch). It is not clear from the story if he lived long afterwards.
Here is the text:
Observations, Book IV, Chapter 31. Wherein a patient cuts a stone out of himself.
-
Doot apparently suffered from the intolerable pain that is caused by a bladder stone. According to date of the portrait, he survived at least until 5 years after the book came out, but 'Doot' could also mean dead.
Murphy doubts the details of the story. He points out that de Doot had previously had two stones removed from his bladder. Therefore the stone may have extruded through the former incisions into the subcutaneous tissue, from which it would have been far easier for de Doot to remove it.
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