An Italian researcher has proposed a new possibility that Lisa Gherardini, the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting "Mona Lisa," may have exhibited early indicators of alopecia areata. This hypothesis is based on visible features in the painting, most notably the absence of eyebrows and eyelashes, as well as a receding hairline at the front of the head.
The British newspaper "Daily Mail" reported on Thursday that the study was prepared by Dr. Luigi Laino from the Institute of Dermatology and Trichology in Rome, and was published in the journal "Clinics in Dermatology." The researcher interpreted these traits as potential indicators of the disease, rather than interpreting them previously as prevailing aesthetic standards of the Renaissance era.
For his part, Laino clarified that alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss in specific areas. He pointed out that psychological stress and hormonal changes may trigger the onset of the disease, noting that the difficult circumstances Gherardini experienced may have contributed to this.
Historical accounts add that Gherardini married at a young age, lost two of her children, and lived during a period when epidemics were rampant. The "Mona Lisa" painting is one of the most famous works of art in the world and continues to attract the interest of researchers and art historians.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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