Museo del Prado, Madrid
Date: c. 1555
Technique: Oil on wood, 100 x 141 cm
The scene likely represents a stonecutter at a fair. The surgeon, who is clearly happy that his operations have been successful, painstakingly moves his knife towards the stone, which is already visible. Behind him hang stones which have been successfully cut out of the head of other patients as a sign of his skill. Next to the quack stands a man who is wringing his hands in desperation, clearly going to be the next patient under the scalpel. However, the stone which caused the disease was believed to be in the brain and had to be surgically removed.
Source