This piece by Robert Tennant Cooper, commissioned in 1912, depicts a young woman lying in bed on a balcony. An ominous figure lurks by her bedside with an hourglass. Without the figure, the scene appears almost calm and peaceful with a beautiful landscape beyond the balcony. Observe the piece to come up with a potential diagnosis for the woman lying in bed. What might the woman lying in bed be suffering from? The …
Spot the Diagnosis! The Case of the Dropsical Child
In this Spot the Diagnosis! post, we have the case of an ill looking child, brought in for healing by a worried mother. Through the symbolic ox, the haloed saint is identified as St Luke, a physician in the New Testament. (Note the book at his lap entitled “Hippocrates”.) (Can you also see St. Luke’s other noted profession? Answer: An artist!) [bg_faq_start] What does this scene depict? This scene depicts three people: an …
Medical History in Art: A brief history of one of the most symbolic tools in medicine
Yesterday (March 30th, 2018) was National Doctor’s Day in the United States, and we thought it would be fitting to do a feature on arguably one of the most symbolic tools in medicine. What is the tool portrayed above? The painting above features Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec using an early version of his invention – the stethoscope. The Inventor1 To the left is a portrait of Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec. Born in 1781, …
Hidden Stories: The Fortune Teller
“Hidden stories” is a series that is part of Arts PRN that focuses on challenging and building observational skills. How many details can you notice? Can you weave together a story from this one still image? Don’t forget to check out more series featured on Arts PRN here. Test your visual intelligence by trying to decipher the story depicted in this painting from 1620 titled “The Fortune Teller” by Simon Vouet! While you’re giving it …
Spot the Diagnosis! The Case of the Red Leg
This week’s Spot the Diagnosis! looks at Miracle of Aurelia degli Angeli. Painted on canvas by Giovanni Battista Crespi in 1600, this piece pays homage to the life and miracles of Saint Aurelia degli Angeli. This woman looks to the Saint for aid, while doctors examine her red leg. While you’re giving it some thought, please consider taking 5 minutes to give us feedback on the “Spot the Diagnosis!” series. From newcomers to …
Spot the Diagnosis! The Case of Mona Lisa
This is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Various medical diagnoses float around regarding the subject of this painting; was she missing her teeth and that is what caused her tight lipped smile? Or was it a result of facial paralysis? However, there may be physical signs of one intriguing diagnosis. Can you spot it? While you’re giving it some thought, please consider taking 5 minutes to give us feedback …