Bizarrely fascinating:
So were these master artists of the Renaissance trying to hide images of anatomically correct brains in their religious work? Why would they do it? Were they trying to put science into religion without getting caught? Or is this just one big coincidence?
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Preposterous! Our renaissance friends’ level of brain preservation technology and neuroanatomical knowledge were not adequate to allow for this thesis.
Pure (silly) coincidence. And a stretch even at that.
Ed Sodaro MD
Anatomy study was one of the practices of the better-known renaissance artists. Detailed painting of the body, demonstrating an anatomist’s knowledge of the musculoskeletal system was common. At the same time, public opinion about post-mortem dissection for anatomical study was not always supportive (in fact often condemned), and neither was the prevailing opinion of the Church.
So was it possible that visual “jokes” were painted into commissioned art works–some commissioned by the very prelates who condemned dissection–to be appreciated by a few who could see more than one meaning in an image?
Yes.
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