Rubens and rheumatoid arthritis

  • Alfredo Leiber Vargas Caselles J.M. Ramos Mejia Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
  • Diana Carolina Fernández Ávila Italiano Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Keywords: Rubens, painting, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

The study of baroque paintings, especially those of Flemish origin, makes it possible to show in some of their figures physical signs suggestive of disease. Peter Paul Rubens constitutes one of the maximum representatives of this artistic current. It is believed that Rubens suffered from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and that he portrayed the development and progression of his own disease in several works of art. This article briefly recounts Rubens’ life and describes some of his works focused on the human figure with joint alterations that could correspond to an AR.

Author Biographies

Alfredo Leiber Vargas Caselles, J.M. Ramos Mejia Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Medical Clinic Service
Diana Carolina Fernández Ávila, Italiano Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rheumatology Service

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Published
2019-09-01
How to Cite
1.
Leiber Vargas Caselles A, Fernández Ávila DC. Rubens and rheumatoid arthritis. Rev. Argent. Reumatol. [Internet]. 2019Sep.1 [cited 2025Jan.15];30(3):44 -6. Available from: https://ojs.reumatologia.org.ar/index.php/revistaSAR/article/view/448
Section
History of medicine