Routledge Representing Infirmity: Diseased Bodies in Italy

Explore the first in-depth analysis of how infirm bodies were represented in Italy from approximately 1400 to 1650. This academic volume from Routledge examines the relationship between images and representations found in medical, religious, and literary texts. Rather than applying modern definitions of disease, this work looks at infirmity through the lens of Galenic humoral theory. Each chapter investigates which specific infirmities appeared in visual culture, providing context on why and when these depictions occurred. By studying the works of renowned artists such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio, readers gain a deeper understanding of how the human body was perceived and portrayed during the Renaissance. This book serves as a necessary resource for those studying the intersection of art history, medicine, and cultural history in Renaissance Italy.