The aim of this study is to elucidate the meaning of the skulls depicted in emblem books of the 17th century. Three emblem books of the 17th century were reviewed and analyzed: (1) Rollenhagen emblem: Gabrielis Rollenhagii Selectorum emblematum centuria secunda (1613), (2) Quarles' emblems; illustrations engraved by William Marshall and others (1635), and (3) Wither's emblem: A collection of emblemes, ancient and moderne: quickened with metricall illustrations, both morall and divine: and disposed into lotteries (1635). Among the 100 illustrations in Rollenhagen's book, 4 (4.0%) had skulls. Among the 76 illustrations in Quarles' book, 6 (7.9%) had skulls. Among the 256 illustrations in Wither's book, 12 (4.7%) had skulls. Thereafter, 22 (5.1%) of 432 illustrations had skulls. Four emblems in Rollenhagen's book were exactly identical to those in Wither's book. Therefore, 18 emblems (6 Quarles' emblem, 12 Wither's emblem) were analyzed. The most frequent meaning of skulls in 18 emblems was death (12, 66.7%), followed by resurrection (2, 11.2%). Other meanings were grief, the brevity of life, vanity of love, and pain, respectively (1 each). The most frequent of the theme of the emblems, which included skulls, was 'Memento mori' (remember death, 6, 33.3%), followed by an earnest desire for salvation or resurrection (3, 16.7%), and importance of knowledge or learning (2, 11.1%). Since these emblem books were published after Vesalius' Fabrica (1543), the drawing of the bones of the arm and legs had anatomic correlations. However, skulls were not sufficiently precise, showing each part of the facial bones.
This study describes the craniofacial features of achondroplastic dwarfism in the paintings of Velázquez. In a PubMed search, using [Velázquez] and [dwarf], 13 titles were found. In a Google Image search, [Velázquez] and [dwarf] retrieved 5 paintings. The craniofacial manifestations of the dwarfs depicted in the paintings were analyzed. Frontal bossing, antimongoloid slant, depressed nasal bridge (saddle nose), bulbous tip, malar hypoplasia, malocclusion, and chin asymmetry were observed. The presence of each manifestation was checked. In 5 paintings, portraits of 6 dwarfs having craniofacial deformities were found: Mariabárbola Asquin (left) in Las Meninas , Nicolasito Pertusato (right) in Las Meninas , Portrait of Sebastián de Morra, Portrait of Francisco Lezcano, The Jester Don Diego de Acedo, and Prince Balthasar Charles with a Dwarf. The most frequent craniofacial manifestation was malar hypoplasia (100%), followed by a bulbous tip (83.3%), saddle nose (66.7%), and frontal bossing (50%). Antimongoloid slant, malocclusion, and chin asymmetry were relatively rare (16.7% each). Through an analysis of 6 dwarfs in Velázquez’s paintings, we can show that he realized and frequently expressed the craniofacial manifestations of achondroplasia: malar hypoplasia, bulbous tip, saddle nose, and frontal bossing. Despite the rarity of these presentations, he was also aware of antimongoloid slant, malocclusion, and chin asymmetry. Velázquez was a famous painter in the 17th century (i.e., during the Baroque period). Based on his excellent expression of the craniofacial manifestations of dwarfism, we can assume that he had a sound knowledge of anatomy, as well as malformations.
The aim of this study was to assess how the eyes of Kyrgyz beauties look through an anthropometric analysis of beauty pageant winners. Eleven winners of the Miss Kyrgyzstan contest (2011-2021) were included. Ten other beauty contest winners were added, resulting in a total of 21 beauties who were included. The horizontal corneal diameter, which is 11.75 mm, was used as a standard distance. Other distances were calculated in millimeters based on the proportions of the pixels measured. Twenty-six distances (face: 10, eyebrows: 2, eyes: 4, nose: 4, lips: 4, and chin: 2) and 9 angles (forehead-brow, cantal tilt, 5 face angles, the mandible angle, and the chin angle) were measured. Thereafter, 16 indices (forehead: 1, eyes: 5, nose: 4, lips and chin: 3, and contours 3) were calculated. The forehead-brow angle was 82.2±7.2 degrees. The canthal tilt was 9.0±2.0 degrees. The overall face angles 1 and 2 were 108.6±4.1 degrees and 69.6±2.3 degrees, respectively. The midface angles 1 and 2 were 129.9±3.8 degrees and 125.1±3.9 degrees, respectively. The lower face angle was 139.6±4.1 degrees. The mandible angle and chin angle were 136.9±4.0 degrees and 106.0±4.0 degrees, respectively. The ratio of forehead height to total face height was 0.33±0.03. The ratio of nose height to total face height was 0.25±0.02. The lower face width/face width ratio was 0.82±0.05. The ratio of face width to total face height was 0.72±0.03. The ratio of midface height to total face height was 0.34±0.02. The data from this study might serve as the recommended esthetic proportions for performing plastic surgical procedures.
In this paper, the authors aim to explore the reasons behind human makeup from both medical and literary perspectives. In a PubMed search for “makeup and cosmetics,” 509 titles were identified. Of these, 64 abstracts were reviewed, and ultimately, 8 full texts were referenced. The poem “A Woman Young and Old” written by William Butler Yeats was analyzed. In Research Information Sharing Service (https://www.riss.kr), 4 full texts about the poem “A Woman Young and Old” were found and referenced. Common motivations for using makeup include enhancing natural features, boosting confidence, expressing creativity, covering imperfections, fulfilling cultural and social expectations, and meeting professional requirements. Makeup can make women appear younger. Makeup enhances the reward value of human facial appearance. Makeup can conceal blemishes, scars, dark circles, and other skin imperfections, resulting in a more even and flawless complexion. In a poem by Yeats “A Woman Young and Old,” he describes a young woman applying makeup and captures a moment in which she engages in the ritual of enhancing her beauty. The line “I’m looking for the face I had before the world was made” speaks to a longing for something beyond the mundane, a yearning for a deeper connection with existence. “Before this world was made” is a typical poetic turn of phrase that compares women to eternal beauty. The reasons why women use makeup are diverse and multifaceted, reflecting a combination of personal preferences, societal influences, and individual motivations. Makeup can be a powerful tool for expressing oneself, boosting one’s confidence, and enhancing one’s natural beauty.