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Rembrandt was cross-eyed


Rembrandt may have had eye problems but it didn't stop him painting many self-portraits, like this one (Image: Reuters/Paul Vreeker)

Renowned 17th century Dutch artist Rembrandt may have been cross-eyed, according to U.S. researchers.

They say this form of stereoblindness, which occurs when someone's eyes are not aligned when looking at an object, would have affected his ability to perceive depth.

Professor Margaret Livingstone, from Harvard Medical School, and colleague outline their research in today's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Rembrandt was a prolific painter of self-portraits, producing almost 100, including some 20 etchings.

When the Harvard researchers mapped the direction of Rembrandt's gaze in 36 self-portraits, he was cross-eyed in 35.

When people generally use the term cross-eyed they mean when both eyes look inwards, towards the nose. But cross-eyed in medical terms can have other meanings.

Rembrandt was cross-eyed, the scientists said, but had a unilateral strabismus, when one eye looks straight ahead while the other deviates sideways.

Stereopsis, or good depth perception, requires both eyes to be precisely aligned when looking at an object.

Because the same eye in 23 of 24 oil paintings and 12 etchings was depicted looking outwards it suggested the detail was not random and added weight to the theory that Rembrandt was stereoblind, said Livingstone.

But being stereoblind has its benefits. The condition may help artists trying to produce the three-dimensional world on a flat canvas, she said.

"Art teachers often instruct students to close one eye in order to flatten what they see," Livingstone wrote.

"Therefore, stereoblindness might not be a handicap, and might even be an asset, for some artists."

Eye problem, what problem?

Australian senior lecturer in art history and theory, Dr Jennifer Milam, from the University of Sydney, is not convinced Rembrandt had an eye problem.

Many factors may have influenced Rembrandt to paint his eyes looking in different directions including portraiture-painting practices of the period, she said.

"Having two eyes staring at you is quite intimidating so it may have been for stylistic reasons he painted his eyes that way," Milam said.

"You would not only need to look at how Rembrandt painted eyes in his self portraits, but also his portraits of other people, portraits by his students as well as his contemporaries to rule out the practices of the time."

Laurie Benson, assistant curator of international art at Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria, said it was difficult to believe one of the greatest illusionist painters and landscape artists would have had poor depth perception.

"One would imagine his landscapes would have been very flat if that was the case," Benson said. "But that certainly isn't the case with Rembrandt."

Tags: health, archaeology