title: Epilepsy through the ages: An artistic point of view.
abstract: The historical allure of epilepsy transcends academic circles and serves as fascinating critique of the state of the times-its values, judgments, mythos, and people. Immortalized and laid bare in artistic renderings of epilepsy are societal truths, at times both disparately grandiose and grotesque. During the middle ages and Renaissance, the European discourse on epilepsy assumed religious fervor. Epilepsy was considered a demonic machination and its cure an act of divine intercession. A similar theme is found in the artistic depiction of epilepsy from the Inca and Aztec civilizations of that time. After the 19th century drew to a close, the ascendency of empiricism coincided with waning creative interest in epilepsy, with few paintings or pieces to capture insightful perspectives on the illness. In this paper, we review the relationship between art and epilepsy and present two contemporary paintings that convey current western perceptions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Epilepsy, Art, and Creativity".
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada; Neurology Section, Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Calle 67 Número 53-108, Colombia. Electronic address: lady.ladino@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lady Diana
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Ladino
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Electronic address: jftellez@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jose Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Téllez-Zenteno
mesh_terms: D003405:Creativity; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000266:history*; D005197:Famous Persons; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*
keywords: Art; Depiction; Epilepsy; Falling sickness; History; Painting; Sacred disease