Why Mona Lisa could have been suffering from hypothyroidism
The observation comes from an Indian scientist who studied the features of the portrait.
By PTI |
Agencies
BOSTON: Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci's muse for Mona Lisa may have suffered from hypothyroidism, according to an Indian-origin scientist who studied the features of the world-famous portrait. Mandeep R Mehra, from Brigham and Women's Hospital in the US, summarised the possible medical conditions visible in the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the woman pictured in Mona Lisa, and proposed his own interpretations.
Previous research suggested that skin lesions and hand swellings visible in the portrait may be indicative of a lipid disorder and heart disease.
Researchers asserted that familial hyperlipidemia and premature atherosclerosis could have caused Lisa Gherardini's death. They also proposed that Mona Lisa's famous smile may have been the result of Bell's palsy.
Scribbles, Scratches And Other Abstract Pieces Of Art That Made Millions
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Who says a scribble or a scratch is worthless? Check out these abstracts which sold for a fortune thanks to their minimalistic allure.
Who says a scribble or a scratch is worthless? Check out these abstracts which sold for a fortune thanks to their minimalistic allure.
Cost: $70.5 million
What seems like chalk scribbles on a slate is actually an oil-based house paint and crayon artwork on canvas by Edwin Parker ‘Cy’ Twombly Jr, which fetched a record price for the artist in Christie’s 2014 sale. Part of Twombly’s ‘blackboard’ paintings, the 1970 artwork is inspired by his stint in Pentagon as a cryptologist. What’s interesting is the way he produced this artwork. He sat on the shoulders of a friend, who kept on walking along the length of the canvas, enabling Twombly to create fluid lines. The painting’s then owner, Audrey Irmas, a philanthropist, parted with the painting to raise funds for her foundation for social justice. Interestingly, Irmas bought the painting for $3.85 million in 1990.
(Image: www.christies.com)
Cost: $70.5 million
What seems like chalk scribbles on a slate is actually an oil-based house paint and crayon artwork on canvas by Edwin Parker ‘Cy’ Twombly Jr, which fetched a record price for the..
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Cost: $1.65 million
Once part of the Robert and Jean Shoenberg collection, this 1961 artwork came into the market at Christie’s 2008 sale. Kelly was a camouflage artist during his stint in the army in the 1940s. He was a part of the unit known as ‘the Ghost army’ comprising artists and designers who painted objects that would misdirect enemy soldiers.
(Image: www.christies.com)
Cost: $1.65 million
Once part of the Robert and Jean Shoenberg collection, this 1961 artwork came into the market at Christie’s 2008 sale. Kelly was a camouflage artist during his stint in the army ..
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The vibrant orange, red and yellow coloured rectangles was part of art collector David Pincus’s estate and was brought to the market by Christie’s in 2012 where its sale set the record for post war/ contemporary art at the time. Rothko’s 1961 work was in Pincus’s possession for four-and-a-half decades. The final bid was double the highest estimate of the artwork.
(Image: www.markrothko.org)
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(Image: www.sothebys.com)
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Newman’s 1961 stark black palette on a pale canvas was part of Christie’s post-war and contemporary evening sale auction in 2014. Newman started dabbling in abstract expression while he was mourning the death of his younger brother George. About the painter’s black fixation, art expert Thomas Hess recalled Newman saying, “When an artist wants to change, when he wants to invent, he goes to black as it is a way of clearing the table-of getting to new ideas.” The painting is in the possession of a private collector now. Its previous owner had the painting for nearly 40 years.
(Image: www.christies.com)
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Newman’s 1961 stark black palette on a pale canvas was part of Christie’s post-war and contemporary evening sale auction in 2014. Newman started dabbling in abstract expression..
After examining the painting, Mehra said that clinical hypothyroidism is a more likely diagnosis given that Lisa Gherardini lived to be 63.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
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Had she suffered from heart disease and a lipid disorder, it's unlikely she would have lived to such an advanced age given the limited treatments available in 16th century Italy.
"The enigma of the Mona Lisa can be resolved by a simple medical diagnosis of a hypothyroidism-related illness. In many ways, it is the allure of the imperfections of disease that give this masterpiece its mysterious reality and charm," said Mehra.
The study, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, cited the Mona Lisa's thinning hair, yellow skin, and possible goiter as visual evidence of hypothyroidism.
International Yoga Day: Asanas For Women To Stay Youthful, Happy And Healthy
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As women venture into new terrains, also performing duties in their traditional mould, striking a balance is important to stay healthy. Yoga can help them in a big way to achieve this.
Akshar Nath, Chairman of Akshar Yoga, shares a few dynamic asanas for maintaining a youthful, happy and a healthy body for women across all ages.
NOTE: While every woman irrespective of her age can perform all these asanas, women with fluctuating blood pressure or those under medical surveillance are not advised to do these.
As women venture into new terrains, also performing duties in their traditional mould, striking a balance is important to stay healthy. Yoga can help them in a big way to achieve this.
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The asana which gets its name from the plough, is a perfect exercise that helps in treating reproductive problems. This pose increases the blood flow to the abdominal organs and helps stimulate the thyroid and parathyroid glands too. Hence this pose is strongly recommended for ageing women.
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Sarvangasana means the asana for the entire body. This shoulder stand pose is often termed as the mother of all poses. Along with many other benefits, this asana helps remove toxins and other waste products from the blood, thus preventing many diseases related to the skin. It prevents wrinkles, pimples and helps delay ageing signs. It facilitates adequate blood supply to the forehead region due to which it works great for facial problems.
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This asana helps in stretching the entire body from the head to the heels. This is a great way to remove stress, anger and anxiety and helps balance a woman's menstrual cycle. This also tones the abdominal and pelvic organs and is especially useful for women after childbirth.
This asana helps in stretching the entire body from the head to the heels. This is a great way to remove stress, anger and anxiety and helps balance a woman's menstrual cycle. This also tones the abd..
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This does wonders in bringing back one’s youth by releasing anxiety and improving blood circulation. This asana also aids in better digestion and memory.
This does wonders in bringing back one’s youth by releasing anxiety and improving blood circulation. This asana also aids in better digestion and memory.
The diet of Italians during the Renaissance was lacking in iodine, and resulting goiters -- swollen thyroid gland -- were commonly depicted in paintings and sculptures of the era.
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Mehra also noted that Lisa Gherardini gave birth shortly before sitting for the portrait, which indicates the possibility of inflammation of the thyroid after pregnancy.
