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"The Holy Family with St. Anne" (c 1633-c 1635) by Peter Paul Rubens; North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh. Purchased with funds from the State of North Carolina.

 

It is well known that Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) had a form of arthritis. In 1606, he developed pleuritis (inflammation of the lining of the lungs thoracic cavity), which sometimes accompanies rheumatoid arthritis. A 1640 letter notes that his "hands are paralyzed for more than one month without hope he might still use his brushes." 1

A group of physicians led by Dr. Thierry Appelboom concluded that deformities depicted in various subjects successive paintings by Rubens were likely those of rheumatoid arthritis; they noted that the painting appeared to show the natural progression of the disease.2 Appelboom observed, "as the progression is documented in the last 30 years of the life of Rubens, and not present in the works of his youth, it is possible that Rubens or a major collaborator in his studio...suffered from the disease portrayed."

Of the artworks analyzed, "The Holy Family With St. Anne," was completed when Rubens was about 57 years of age. In the painting, the left hand of St. Anne, resting on Mary's shoulder, is depicted with a characteristic swollen rheumatoid wrist.

References

1. Genneeskunde rond Rubens. Antwerp: Geneesheren huis; 1977

2. Appelboom T, et al. Rubens and the question of antiquity of rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA. 1981; 245:483-486.

 

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