This artwork portrays al-Zahrawi guiding students through the practice of surgery. The operating environment, the instruments, the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi worked in Cordoba in the tenth century and produced al-Tasrif, a thirty-volume medical encyclopaedia whose surgical section became the standard reference in European medical schools for five hundred years. He designed over two hundred surgical instruments, many of which he invented himself, including the surgical needle, the forceps, and the ligature. He was the first to describe haemophilia as an inherited condition. He performed procedures that European medicine would not attempt for centuries.
His work was translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona in the twelfth century. European surgeons cited him as Albucasis. The name al-Zahrawi was obscured. The knowledge was not.
Every artwork in the Riwayah collection is available in four premium display formats, crafted to suit every home and interior style. Our canvas prints offer a rich, textured finish that brings depth and character to each piece, stretched on FSC-certified wooden bars for a refined gallery feel. For a minimalist and versatile look, our magnetic hangers use durable pine wood to hold your print securely without marking it, making it easy to change artwork whenever you like. Those seeking a classic, museum-style presentation can choose our premium wooden frames, crafted from responsibly sourced oak or ash with visible natural grain and protected with shatterproof plexiglass. And for a sleek, contemporary finish, our aluminium frames pair clean black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a polished, modern aesthetic. All prints use FSC-certified paper and high-quality inks, arrive ready to hang or assemble, and are produced on demand in the UK to reduce waste and ensure the highest standard of craftsmanship.
