Rembrandt's Anatomy Lesson Gets AR App for 350th Death Anniversary

The Mauritshuis museum in The Hague has launched Rembrandt Reality, a free augmented reality app for Android and iOS, allowing users to virtually enter Rembrandt's 1632 painting 'The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp'. Developed by startup Capitola, the app recreates the dissection scene in 360 degrees, including a portal to a 17th-century Amsterdam tower. The project marks the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death. Capitola used 3D scans of actors resembling the portrayed surgeons, taking five months to complete. Project director David Robustelli emphasized authenticity, stating the app lets users 'travel back in time for a few minutes'. The app builds on a previous mixed reality collaboration between Capitola and the Mauritshuis for Rembrandt's 'Saul and David' (1651-8).