'High-status' portrait of bearded woman bought by Wellcome Collection

Science and medical foundation identifies condition as rare congenital endocrine condition known as Ambras SyndromeOn 15 September 1657 the diarist John Evelyn had a conversation with an intelligent, cultured German woman, dressed in the height of fashion, who played beautifully to him on the harpsichord. She also had “a most prolix beard,& mustachios, with long locks of haire growing on the very middle of her nose, exactly like an Island Dog. ”TheWellcome Collection in Londonhas acquired a remarkable portrait painted a few years before their meeting, which shows Barbara van Beck exactly as Evelyn described her: composed, dignified, wearing a beautiful and expensive low-cut grey silk dress, with a lace collar tied with a scarlet bow, and more ribbons in her hair which was, Evelyn wrote, “neatly dress’d … of a bright browne& fine as well dressed flax ”.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Art Science Art and design Wellcome Collection Culture UK news Source Type: news