Strabismo di Venere

[@karinay6774]

Wow this is so fascinating! I’m a lover of art history and I’m a vision therapist that works with people with strabismus and amblyopia!!

[@AmuzeArt]

That's a cool combination. There is a whole field of medical research where people look at portraits from history to see what kind of diseases were prevalent in different times and areas. But the strabismus seems to be a very particular case, as in some cases it's a real impairment, but in minor cases the brain may automatically adjust and it may be seen as some beautiful. But you will know more about this..

[@deborahberger5816]

I wear a MINS lens in my glasses, if you know what means.

[@GuillePuerto]

I was taught in art history class that a perfect gaze would look too intense and overwhelming to the spectator, and that's why they painted the eyes slightly misaligned. WHat do you think of that explanation?

[@AmuzeArt]

Thanks, that's an interesting explanation as well, and that may apply to some cases. If that was the case, I would personally have them look with both eyes away from the viewer ;-)

[@huffbrau]

Fascinating and very educational for me! Thank you

[@AmuzeArt]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! It was also an eye-opener for me

[@baldwinverhoeven9795]

Thanks for the interesting video! I wonder, if strabismus was considered a sign of beauty, wouldnt it be possible painters made (self-)portraits including the condition, even though it was not the case in real life?

[@AmuzeArt]

That's an interesting suggestion that I did not think about before!! I guess it's possible in the time before photography existed..

[@robertirving1308]

How interesting. I never heard of this phenomenon before, but now I will have a new look at many Renaissance paintings.

[@AmuzeArt]

Yes, and don't forget to look at the self portraits of some artists. For example, almost all self portraits by Rembrandt show strabismus.

[@margaretfederal7378]

I learned something new today. Thank you!

[@AmuzeArt]

Glad you did, thanks for watching

[@deborahberger5816]

I wanted to do a bit more research on this, and along the way I came upon the painting "Strabismus of Venus" by the Italian graffiti artist known as Gruffot. I won't describe it though, that's up to you, so no spoilers!

[@AmuzeArt]

Haha, nice one

[@deborahberger5816]

Suddenly my sixth-nerve palsy becomes strabismo di Venere -- and everyone can see how it just adds to my beauty. Nobody can say "you're no oil painting" to me now!

[@AmuzeArt]

There you go!