“The Doctor” by Sir Samuel Luke Fildes conveys an agonizing parental vigil over a sick child, and the solemn devotion of the physician entrusted with her care. When commissioned by a wealthy patron of the arts to create a painting that depicted Social Realism, Fildes (1844 – 1927) drew upon the heart-wrenching death of his son, as well as his gratitude toward the noble, dedicated doctor who cared for him. For accuracy, Fildes built a cottage interior in his studio and began working at dawn to reproduce specific lighting. One of the best-known medical paintings in the Western world, this piece by Fildes is symbolic of the ideal physician.

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