The epileptic seizure and the mystery of death in Christian painting.
The epileptic seizure is in many cultures associated with death. Indo-European tradition perceives death not necessarily as the end but as a step, as a point the life cycle is passing through. The epileptic seizure may be seen as a transient form of death, which offers some symmetry with the biblical story of the death and resurrection of Christ. This article, originating from a case report, shows how some Christian painting alludes to renaissance after a seizure and to the parallelism between the patient with epilepsy and the destiny of Christ. Special attention is paid to Raphael's, in this respect particularly complex work, The Transfiguration.
Mann
Michael W
MW
Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital St. Anne (Pr FX Roux), Paris, France. m.mann@ch-sainte-anne.fr
D001293:Attitude to Death; D002835:Christianity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings