T H E B R A I N S B E H I N D
T H E M A S T E R P I E C E S
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The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, London UK published an article entitled "Brain Imaging in the Renaissance" supporting the theory that various Renaissance painters concealed anatomical parts in the imagery of their paintings.
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Skull
Alexander Chubar
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Study of Michelangelo
Ilya Lerner
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The resemblance to a brain in Michaelangelo’s famous fresco from the Sistine Chapel was first suggested in 1990 by the scientist Frank Lynn Meshberger in the medical publication the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Now other British scientists have confirmed the initial hypothesis by tracking down more brains in masterpieces by other Renaissance artists. It partly started as a joke to entertain skeptical colleagues, but as the team went on a brain trawl, they found many other examples.
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Fire-Breathing Dragon in My Brain
Julie Seyler
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Pride
Maida Rosenheck
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The scientists are now convinced that the artists were fascinated by the scientific discoveries made by anatomists of their time, but that they had to conceal these theories in their paintings.
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For sure Renaissance artists had good reason to hide their interests. Their main clients – often senior clergy – would have seen these interests as blasphemous or even heretical, which was an offense punishable by death.
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Kiss or Kill
Peter Illig
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