The Renaissance Master Raphael probably didn't like his nose, and replaced it with an idealized version in his famous self-portrait. That is the conclusion of Rome University scientists who produced a 3D computer reconstruction of the Italian artist's face from a plaster cast of his presumed skull made in 1833.
In that year, the remains believed to be those of the man hailed by his contemporaries as the divine one because he sought perfection through his work, Reuters reported. "He certainly made his nose look more refined. His nose was, let's say, slightly more prominent," said Professor Mattia Falconi, a molecular biologist at the university. Raphael died in Rome in 1520 aged 37, probably from pneumonia, and was buried in Rome's Pantheon. The self-portrait, which normally hangs in Florence's Uffizi gallery, is currently in Rome for an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of his death. Experts suggest he died from a contagious disease.
Raphael painted himself 15 years before his death without a beard. The drawing features the more aquiline nose that Raphael also included in other works in which he painted himself. The reconstruction is of the way he may have looked closer to his death, when he wore a beard.
"The fever that affected the Italian painter was treated by Rome's best doctors sent by the Pope fear of losing this exceptional artist," medical historian Michele Augusto Riva told AFP.
In his writings about "one of the best painters, sculptors, and architects," Italian historian Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) said Raphael didn't tell his doctors about his "frequent night outings" to visit his lovers.
"At the time, March weather was colder than today, so he was probably suffering from pneumonia," explained Riva. Raphael showed an early talent, and was considered one of the Renaissance masters along with Michael Angelo and Leonardo Da Vinci.
The Italian artist had a grand funeral in the Vatican, and was buried in a cemetery dedicated to the Italian elite in Rome. This year, his tomb has been adorned with red roses to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death.
Riva, who carried out a study with three of his colleagues at the University of Milano-Bicocca, said: "Back then, physicians were aware of the bloodlettings risks in treating infections, but they acted based on false information."
"A medical error, in addition to Raphael's mistake of hiding the truth about his outings, was the reason behind his death."
