title: Foot deformities in Renaissance paintings. A mystery of symbolism, artistic licence, illusion and true representation in five renowned Renaissance painters.
abstract: Although Renaissance artists were skilled in representing normal anatomy, a close look at some paintings reveals anatomical variations in the depiction of the feet of human figures. A systematic review has identified 25 paintings by five artists in which the presumptive medico-artistic diagnosis of congenital or acquired foot deformity seems to be varyingly present. The connection between these five painters and what factors have influenced artists' style in the depiction of such deformities is discussed. The possible iconography and medical-historical meaning of such variations, as well as the possibility of artistic licence and real representation that drove the painters to depict these deformities, is explored and debated.
authors.affiliation: D Lazzeri, Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Villa Salaria Clinic, Rome, Italy. Email davidelazzeri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grassetti
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dashti
authors.forename: Y X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Persichetti
mesh_terms: D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000266:history*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D006801:Humans; D008512:Medicine in the Arts; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*; D013561:Symbolism
keywords: Renaissance painting; artistic license; extra digit; foot deformity; polydactyly; prominence