Today we will talk about some curious facts about art. In some Renaissance paintings we find some curiosities. For example, in the works of Raphael (1483-1520) we find two paintings with very strange details. These are characters with six fingers. Some claim it was the painter’s mistakes, while others suggest a more likely explanation. Why did Rafaelo paint some of his people with six fingers?
The first image appears in the work “The Marriage of the Virgin” (1504) and the second can be seen in the “Sistine Madonna” (1513-1514), both paintings were created by an Italian artist named Raphael in the Renaissance era.
Painter’s mistake?
For a time it was believed that these deformities were the painter’s mistake.but there is a legend that, over the years, has been more accepted by people.
It is said that at that time newborns with polydactyly were seen very frequently., which is a genetic disorder where a human is born with more fingers or toes. There was also a rumor that the Queen consort of England, Anne Boleyn (1507-1536) had been born with polydactyly in her left hand, but that rumor has apparently been disproved.
And since it was a common disorder, people at that time believed that it was the manifestation of a sixth sense and that those people had the ability to interpret prophetic dreams… well, that is if the extra finger appeared on the right side, because if it appeared on the left side then they said it was the work of the devil.
The number 6 and art
This is apparently the reason why six fingers appear in both works. But, curiously, the fingers are not the only ones that are related to the number six. For example, in the box “The Marriage of the Virgin” six women and six men appear in front of the painting, and in the “Sistine Madonna” six characters appear and the man who is kneeling is the pope “Sixth” IV and the theme of this work is also related to the number six… Curious things that happen in the minds of artists.
And what do you think, was it a mistake of the painter or did he do it on purpose?
What curious factsome believe that in the work the “Sistine Madonna” there are six fingers on the right hand of pope Sixtus IV, but if you take a closer look you will realize that this is not true.