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Skin abnormalities in the National Portrait Gallery

2004; Wiley; Volume: 18; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1468-3083.2004.01024.x

1468-3083

RM Strauss, Helena Marzo‐Ortega, V. Goulden,

Medicine and Dermatology Studies History

ABSTRACT Pathological changes in the human body have long been recognised in painting. To assess the frequency of potential physical abnormalities reflected in paintings, we reviewed portraits on display at one visit in the National Portrait Gallery in London. We identified a number of possible abnormalities, most of them dermatological, with the commonest finding being small facial papular lesions, most likely representing either common warts or dermal naevi. This exercise however, reflects a subjective interpretation of the different artists's perceptions of their models’ physical appearances.