A group of seven men in dark clothing and white ruffs gather closely around a table where a pale, lifeless figure lies exposed under a strong, golden light. At the right, a man wearing a broad-brimmed black hat and fine lace collar gestures with a pair of forceps in his right hand, his gaze directed toward the attentive faces around him. The body on the table is that of a man, his torso and left arm illuminated, the muscles of his forearm carefully revealed and held apart for inspection.

Each observer leans forward, their faces animated by curiosity or concentration, with some craning their necks to see the demonstration more clearly. The background recedes into deep shadow, focusing attention on the figures and the anatomical lesson at the center. Light falls sharply across the faces and hands of the group, heightening the contrast between illuminated flesh and the enveloping darkness.

The men’s ruffs and collars are crisply painted, their textures distinct against the smooth, shadowed garments. The composition forms a tight, almost triangular cluster, with the corpse’s pale body as the base and the heads of the observers rising above in a rhythmic sequence. Fine brushwork is visible in the rendering of hair, beards, and the intricate folds of lace, while broader, more blended strokes shape the dark background and clothing.

A large open book lies at the lower right, its pages catching the light, suggesting reference or study. A single hand with splayed fingers rests on the open pages of the book at the lower right, its sleeve partly visible in the shadow. The upper left and lower left corners of the painting are enveloped in deep black, with only the faintest suggestion of a coat sleeve at the edge.

One man at the back stands apart from the group, his face brightly lit and his eyes wide, with his right hand resting on the shoulder of the figure in front of him. The corpse’s right hand and both feet are mostly obscured by shadow, blending into the darkness at the edges of the table. The light creates a warm, golden highlight along the corpse’s chest and thigh, while the brushwork on the table and book is looser and less defined than on the faces and hands.