Did Michelangelo Have Gout?

Abstract

Michelangelo, the great Renaissance artist, is often included on lists of celebrated gout patients. His letters describe a single acute attack of foot pain at the age of 80, but a case for early onset has been presented, based on a fresco by a contemporary artist, Raphael. A figure resembling Michelangelo at the age of 36 appears to have nodules resembling tophi over his knees.In this report, we review Michelangelo's medical history, discuss the proposal that he had tophaceous gout, and address the significance of "knobby" knees in his works and those of other artists.