The Breasts of “Night”: Michelangelo as Oncologist

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Frescoes: communications about the brain

“…Blech and Doliner (Blech & Doliner, 2008) published a book about Michelangelo and also commented on God's backside. An astute observer of medical conditions as well, Michelangelo is even considered to have accurately sculpted a misshapen breast indicative of breast cancer (Stark & Nelson, 2000). There are now many observations of diverse anatomical portrayals in Michelangelo's art, not just faces and brains, but lungs and kidneys and more, from scientists and others with diverse backgrounds.…”

Introductory Chapter: Having a Brain is Not Necessary to Get Cancer… but Indispensable to Fight It

“…The famous Michelangelo's marble statue "Night", located in the Medici tomb (Medici Chapel, Church Unique Aspects of Anti-cancer Drug Developmentof San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy) and dated to 1520-1534, presents a female figure with owl-the night bird, symbol of feminine energies, the moon, magic and darkness, prophecy and wisdom. The left breast of this statue is completely different than right, and has abnormalities associated by oncologist with locally advanced cancer [22]. Another "clinical documentation" of the cancer stage contains "La Fornarina" by Rafael Santi painted in 1520.…”

Breast Cancer

“…In the historic literature, the disease and its treatment were discussed and described as cancer by the most famous medical authorities of antiquity, including Hippocrates, Celsus, and Galen, and by several prominent medieval authors, including Avicenna and Rolando da Parma. 4 An observant physician, Charles Stark, noted the specific anatomical changes of breast cancer in the sculpture by Michelangelo, “Night” in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. 4…”

“…4 An observant physician, Charles Stark, noted the specific anatomical changes of breast cancer in the sculpture by Michelangelo, “Night” in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. 4…”