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Skin abnormalities in the National Portrait Gallery.
R M Strauss1, H Marzo-Ortega, V Goulden
1Department of Dermatology, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK. roland@strauss.karoo.co.uk
Summary
Art history reveals potential physical abnormalities in portraits. A review of paintings at the National Portrait Gallery found common facial papular lesions, likely warts or naevi, reflecting artists
Area of Science:
- Art History
- Medical Humanities
- Dermatology
Background:
- Historical paintings offer a unique lens through which to observe societal perceptions of health and physical appearance.
- The National Portrait Gallery houses a vast collection of portraits spanning various eras, providing a rich resource for such analysis.
Observation:
- A review of portraits at the National Portrait Gallery was conducted to identify potential physical abnormalities depicted by artists.
- The most frequently observed abnormalities were small, facial papular lesions.
Findings:
- These facial lesions are most likely to represent common skin conditions such as warts (verrucae) or dermal nevi (moles).
- The prevalence of these findings suggests that such dermatological conditions were common among the sitters depicted in these portraits.
Implications:
- This study highlights the potential for art historical analysis to contribute to the understanding of historical health and disease prevalence.
- The findings underscore the subjective nature of artistic representation and the artist's interpretation of their subject's physical characteristics.
- Further research could involve dermatological expertise to refine the interpretation of depicted lesions.