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Socio-communicative aspects of the representation of disease symptoms in Renaissance art

https://doi.org/10.21453/2311-3065-2024-12-2-58-72

Abstract

Modern historical research devoted to the development of medical science and the art of healing increasingly involves the analysis of sociocultural and sociocommunicative aspects, which become part of historical analysis. The article examines the relationship between fine art and human anatomy as an element of sociocultural translation (communication) of knowledge in the history of medicine, in particular anatomy. The art of the Renaissance, primarily portraiture from life, copying the image of a specific person, can reflect signs of his health, symptoms of illness, and medical knowledge in historical retrospect is actually part of the culture of society. The artists often turned out to be medically observant, accurate in small details. In this study, the authors show several examples of the reflection of specific medical pathologies in paintings and come to the conclusion that works of art can transmit information about the state of health of the depicted person, the presence of clinical manifestations of diseases captured by the brush of an artist but probably not yet known and understood by the doctors of that epoque.

About the Authors

O. I. Yakushina
Fedorovsky Research Institute of Mineral Raw Materials (VIMS)
Russian Federation

Yakushina Olga Igorevna – СandSc (Soc.), senior specialist of the Fedorovsky Research Institute of Mineral Raw Materials (VIMS), adviser to the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences

119002, Moscow, Sivtsev Vrazhek, 29/16



F. I. Sharkov
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO – University)
Russian Federation

Sharkov Felix Izosimovich – DSc (Soc.), Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Sociology at MGIMO – University, Head of the Department of Public Relations and Media Policy, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Journalism at RANEPA

119545, Moscow, Vernadsky av., 76



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For citations:


Yakushina O.I., Sharkov F.I. Socio-communicative aspects of the representation of disease symptoms in Renaissance art. Communicology. 2024;12(2):58-72. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21453/2311-3065-2024-12-2-58-72

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ISSN 2311-3065 (Print)
ISSN 2311-3332 (Online)