How does The 'Finger-Assisted' Nephrectomy of Professor Nadey Hakim elucidate its Composition?
With the help of Hakim, Ward was able to take photographs and make preliminary drawings of the surgeons prior to beginning to create the painting in oil over the course of one year. As part of his research, in 2009 he attended the removal of a kidney using the finger-assisted method at the Hammersmith Hospital, and being seated next to the patient was able to sketch the procedure.The painting shows Nadey Hakim demonstrating his procedure for kidney removal from a donor, an operation that involves a small incision between the tenth and eleventh ribs and results in improved operative safety over other methods of removal. The surgeons shown are, from left to right, Said Dee, Arno Roscher, Earl Owen, Rocco Maruotti, Christopher Chen, Nadey Hakim, John Fournier, George Fayad, Adel Ramzy, Biagio Ravo and Refaat Kamel.Ward decided to paint the surgeons in business suits to follow the example of Rembrandt whose subjects are in contemporary dress, and because if he had used surgical scrubs there would have been little to distinguish them. Formal wear also allowed him to depict their ties, so adding some additional colour and design to the work. His aim was to give each surgeon equal prominence which he achieved through the creation of three tiers of figures along a horizontal plane and the careful manipulation of light. The pyramidal structure of the figures is as used by the old masters.
Christopher Chen Adel Ramzy Hammersmith Hospital Nadey Hakim surgical scrubs Rembrandt Rocco Maruotti removal of a kidney Arno Roscher Earl Owen George Fayad Refaat Kamel