Citation

Lanthony P. J. Fr. Ophtalmol. 1999; 22(6): 700-708.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Masson Editeur)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10434209

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the inventory of historical painters who were blind, and the analysis of their attitude in the face of the blindness.
METHODS: The population study was extracted from the dictionary of painters by Benezit. The method of the study was ophthalmological, to assess precisely the type and the etiology of the blindness; and psychological and artistic to study the reactions of the painters.
RESULTS: Blindness was found among 85 painters. They were 5 cases of transitory blindness; 20 cases of unilateral blindness; and 60 cases of bilateral definitive blindness. The psychological attitudes of the painters were either negative, with depression, and even suicide (5 cases); or positive, with perseverance to paint till to blindness, teaching of the painting after blindness.
CONCLUSIONS: The small number of painters with a blindness caused by a precise etiology was disappointing, but the variety of the reactions gave a good account of the attitude of the painters who became blind.

Language: fr

Keywords

Blindness; Famous Persons; Female; France; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Male; Paintings