Art is a projection of the artist’s experiences and memories depicted through the use of different shapes and lines. An artist’s artwork is based on how he or she perceives the world. Each minute detail must be reflected in the painting. In order to achieve this, artists strive to account for every bump, crease and shadow. Thus, observation is a key component in art. Whether by choice or unconsciously, artists depict appearances and shapes that reflect the health of the subjects being drawn. Before the massive strides society has taken to perfecting medical machinery, doctors diagnosed patients with a strong emphasis on observation. However, today much of this “human touch” has been lost behind the medical machinery available to most doctors.
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This idea is depicted through Piero di Cosimo’s Satyr Mourning over a Nymph. Through scientific scrutiny, this painting can be better understood. Professor Michael Baum, a leading art critic and cancer expert, clarified a common misconception about the painting. The painting was believed to depict a woman who was accidentally killed by her husband during a deer hunt. Professor Baum went against common belief and stated that, “this is not a depiction of the accidental death […] It is a painting of a murder, and a very nasty one at that” (The Fine Art of Medical Diagnosis). Baum draws attention to the woman’s hands. He notices that there are deep lacerations that most likely were caused when the woman was trying to fend off an attacker. Baum also notes that the woman’s left hand is bent backward in a position known as “the waiters tip.” This usually occurs when the C3 and C4 points on the cervical cord are seriously damaged. The wound on her throat supports damage to her cervical cord. Just through observation, Baum is able to diagnose the
This idea is depicted through Piero di Cosimo’s Satyr Mourning over a Nymph. Through scientific scrutiny, this painting can be better understood. Professor Michael Baum, a leading art critic and cancer expert, clarified a common misconception about the painting. The painting was believed to depict a woman who was accidentally killed by her husband during a deer hunt. Professor Baum went against common belief and stated that, “this is not a depiction of the accidental death […] It is a painting of a murder, and a very nasty one at that” (The Fine Art of Medical Diagnosis). Baum draws attention to the woman’s hands. He notices that there are deep lacerations that most likely were caused when the woman was trying to fend off an attacker. Baum also notes that the woman’s left hand is bent backward in a position known as “the waiters tip.” This usually occurs when the C3 and C4 points on the cervical cord are seriously damaged. The wound on her throat supports damage to her cervical cord. Just through observation, Baum is able to diagnose the