The effects of diseases, drugs, and chemicals on the creativity and productivity of famous sculptors, classic painters, classic music composers, and authors.
BACKGROUND
Many myths, theories, and speculations exist as to the exact etiology of the diseases, drugs, and chemicals that affected the creativity and productivity of famous sculptors, classic painters, classic music composers, and authors.


OBJECTIVE
To emphasize the importance of a modern clinical chemistry laboratory and hematology coagulation laboratory in interpreting the basis for the creativity and productivity of various artists.


METHODS
This investigation analyzed the lives of famous artists, including classical sculptor Benvenuto Cellini; classical sculptor and painter Michelangelo Buonarroti; classic painters Ivar Arosenius, Edvard Munch, and Vincent Van Gogh; classic music composer Louis Hector Berlioz; and English essayist Thomas De Quincey. The analysis includes their illnesses, their famous artistic works, and the modern clinical chemistry, toxicology, and hematology coagulation tests that would have been important in the diagnosis and treatment of their diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The associations between illness and art may be close and many because of both the actual physical limitations of the artists and their mental adaptation to disease. Although they were ill, many continued to be productive. If modern clinical chemistry, toxicology, and hematology coagulation laboratories had existed during the lifetimes of these various well-known individuals, clinical laboratories might have unraveled the mysteries of their afflictions. The illnesses these people endured probably could have been ascertained and perhaps treated. Diseases, drugs, and chemicals may have influenced their creativity and productivity.
Wolf
Paul L
PL
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, VA Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. paul.wolf@med.va.gov
D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000266:history; D003405:Creativity; D004194:Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004526:Efficiency; D005197:Famous Persons; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000266:history; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006809:Humanities / Q000266:history*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000266:history; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000009:adverse effects*
D015262:Xenobiotics