Hematohidrosis in 15th Century Renaissance Art and a Review of Modern Literature

Abstract

Hematohidrosis, or hematidrosis, is a rare medical condition characterized by blood oozing from the intact skin in the absence of a bleeding problem. 1 Prior to modern-day medical literature, these phenomena had been captured in Renaissance and also present-day artwork. While the purpose of medical literature is to aid healthcare professionals and patients in the better understanding and treatment of disease, a significant proportion of Renaissance art commissioned by the church depicted scenes from the Bible, for the purposes of a visual depiction of key events to promote teachings of the faith, and to encourage devotion to God.We explored the theme of hematohidrosis in historic art and performed a rapid review of modern medical literature, noting that the earliest works featuring hematohidrosis were depictions in Renaissance art as early as the 15th century. The German painter known as Meister Der Freisinger Passion (Master of the Freising Passion) depicts Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives, sweating drops of blood (►Fig. 1). Around him, his disciples sit, fast asleep. Another piece given the same name, the Christus am Ölberg, is featured in one of the frescoes of the Tabernakelbildstock in Welsberg-Taisten (Wayside Shrine of Tesido; ►Fig. 2). Believed to have been painted by Wolfgang Sauber in the 1460s, it depicts Christ with his hands clasped together in prayer as bloody sweat dots his forehead. These two artworks provide visual testimony to Luke's account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before crucifixion. The motif of the cup is featured in the two artworks, echoing Christ's words in Luke 22:42, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." The cup is a symbol of the cup of God's wrath that Jesus takes upon Himself, as He takes on the sins of the nations. In the words of preacher Charles Spurgeon, "at one tremendous draught of love, He drank damnaarticle published online