Theatre Scene

This pastel by Diana (Dickie) Orpen depicts a typical theatre scene at Hill End Hospital during the second world war. It demonstrates that her talents were wider than purely producing technical illustrations.

The depiction shows two surgeons, one working at the head of a patient and the second undertaking “bench” surgery behind. Frequently, a second surgeon might, as an example, be preparing and shaping a bone graft, previously harvested from the patient whilst the first prepares where will be placed.

Although it was quite common for two procedures on two patients to be undertaken within the same theatre, this does not seem to be the case here.

This work is currently on long-term loan to the Royal College of Surgeons and can be seen in the Hunterian Museum there.

BAPRAS/268