Mystery behind Botticellis Birth of Venus side-eye solved and the reason is heartbreaking

For more than 500 years, Venus’ sideways glance has sparked endless debate.Now, scientists believe Sandro Botticelli wasn’t taking artistic license at all in his iconic “Birth of Venus” painting.The legendary artist may have faithfully painted the subtle signs of the devastating illness that killed his muse decades before modern medicine could explain it.Researchers now believe it reflected a devastating real-life medical condition suffered by the woman who inspired one of history’s most famous paintings.The subject is widely believed to be Simonetta Vespucci, the legendary Florentine beauty who captivated Renaissance Italy — and apparently Botticelli himself.Scientists from Queen Mary University of London say her slightly misaligned gaze may have been caused by a pituitary adenoma, a usually benign brain tumor that grows on the pituitary gland.The findings build on a theory the team first proposed seven years ago.After reviewing additional historical documents, the researchers now believe an expanding pituitary tumor likely caused the medical emergency that claimed Simonetta’s life at just 23 — overturning the long-held belief that she died of tuberculosis.“It’s possible that the irregular eye positioning in the Birth of Venus – the ‘strabismus’ or squint later considered a trait of piety and beauty – may be caused by the pituitary tumor,” senior author Paolo Pozzilli said in the new study.According to the researchers, Simonetta may have experienced tumor apoplexy — a dangerous condition in which bleeding or swelling inside the tumor becomes a medical emergency.For centuries, art historians largely chalked Venus’ wandering eye up to symbolism, suggesting Botticelli intentionally painted it as a sign of beauty or religious devotion.But after analyzing five portraits believed to depict Simonetta using facial recognition software, the researchers concluded the feature may have been hiding in plain sight.

The AI-assisted analysis also...