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From the Luttrell Psalter to the Lobster Boy: Split hand and foot awaken many facets of human nature
Author(s) -
McPherson Elspeth,
McPherson Heather
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part c: seminars in medical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1552-4876
pISSN - 1552-4868
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.c.31889
Subject(s) - sympathy , foot (prosody) , curiosity , perception , social acceptance , aesthetics , psychology , psychoanalysis , art , literature , social psychology , neuroscience
Abstract A marginal illustration of a non‐ambulatory child in the 14th Century Luttrell Psalter is the earliest currently identifiable image of an individual with Split Hand Split Foot with Long Bone Deficiency (SHFLD). Changes in portrayal of SHFLD over the centuries reflect changes in social perception of disabilities from pious sympathy to scientific curiosity and unfortunately also morbid fascination. Hopefully understanding of the past attitudes toward split hand and foot as reflected in art can help in moving toward acceptance of individuals with this highly visible malformation.