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Was Rembrandt strabismic?
Nicholas E Mondero1, Russell J Crotty, Roger W West
1Oklahoma College of Optometry, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA.
Summary
Analysis of Rembrandt's self-portraits suggests his apparent exotropia was not due to a medical condition. Artistic techniques and gazeovershoot likely created the illusion of strabismus in his paintings.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Art History
- Perceptual Psychology
Background:
- Previous studies suggested Rembrandt had exotropia based on iris centration in self-portraits.
- This study re-examined Rembrandt's self-portraits to evaluate the claim of strabismus.
Discussion:
- Observer judgments indicated an outward deviation of gaze, but this was partly due to the non-affected eye.
- Factors like head turn, mirror use, and angle kappas contributed to the perceived strabismus.
- The apparent strabismus was primarily observed in early career portraits.
Key Insights:
- The apparent outward deviation of the eyes in Rembrandt's self-portraits can be explained by factors other than actual exotropia.
- Artistic choices, including gaze overshoot and potentially an artistic style, may account for the perceived strabismus.
- Similar appearances were noted in portraits of non-strabismic individuals by Rembrandt and his students.
Outlook:
- Further research could explore the prevalence of such artistic conventions in portraiture of the era.
- Investigating the specific artistic techniques used by Rembrandt and his contemporaries could clarify the role of style in perceived ocular alignment.
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