ARTinvestment.EN – 10.02.2016, 15:35
A magnified image of hands with three portraits of Michelangelo
Left to right: portrait by Jacopo del Conte (oil on Board; approx. 1535), a portrait by Pompeo di Giulio Caccini (oil on wood; CA. 1595) and Daniele da Volterra (oil on wood; CA. 1544)
Source: jrs.sagepub.com
The great Michelangelo could suffer from osteoarthritis. To such conclusion the British scientists. A study published in the journal of the Royal medical society. The diagnosis was made on the images of hands in various portraits of Michelangelo, as well as from their own descriptions of their pain, which is preserved in his letters.
Letter in which Michelangelo complains about his health, it becomes clear that the sculptor had pain in the joints. “Before, these pains had been attributed to gout, however, our analysis indicates that this diagnosis is incorrect”, — says the study’s author, David Lazari (Davide Lazzeri). For gout is characterized by severe reddening of the skin, the formation of nodules and lumps from deposits of uric acid salts. However, in the hands of Michelangelo, judging by the portraits of Jacopo del Conte (oil on Board; approx. 1535), by Pompeo di Giulio Caccini (oil on wood; CA. 1595) and Daniele da Volterra (oil on wood; CA. 1544), such lesions were not. Instead, we see a bony, deformed joints of the fingers, which is evidence of osteoarthritis, cartilage defects.
Michelangelo died in 1564, shortly before his 89th birthday. As written by Giorgio Vasari, the master continued to work in the Studio for only six days before death. This is despite the fact that at the time he dictated his letter to the Secretary, as the letter caused him pain. “Diagnosis of osteoarthritis stresses the triumph of the master over the disease, he persistently continued to work until his last days, despite the pain. And perhaps it is the ongoing and hard work helped him to maintain the viability of their hands as long as possible”, says Lazare.
The material was prepared by Maria Onuchin, AI
Sources: artnet.com, jrs.sagepub.com, artinvestment.ru
