Episode #18: Diagnosis: Art History (Season 1, Episode 18)

Over the centuries, there have been numerous examples of fine artists creating works of art that deliberately work with and within contemporaneous medical thought, portraying people with particular ailments or diseases. But what about if we turn that concept around a little bit? What happens when those in the medical field turn to paintings or sculptures from the past and retroactively investigate the health of the individuals depicted therein? What happens when art history turns into a diagnosis? // Please SUBSCRIBE and REVIEW our show—we can’t thank you enough! Check our website for images from today’s show, as well as information about our other episodes. And come find us on Twitter and Instagram! Looking for a transcription of this episode? Check it out here. Not to be used for distribution or any other purpose without permission. Want more art-historical goodness? Check out the links below: Boston Globe: Monet? Gaugin? Using Art to Make Better Doctors New York Times: Studying Art with the Eye of a Physician Wall Street Journal: Doctors Enlist Paintings to Hone Skills The Guardian: The Fine Art of Medical Diagnosis The Guardian: Did the Mona Lisa Have Syphilis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices