Leonardo da Vinci Had a Peripheral Nerve Injury?
A new study published this month reviews a portrait of da Vinci, painted by Giovan Ambrogio Figino. Previously overlooked is da Vinci’s arm and hand in a sling, with the right hand in a position not typical of a stroke. Following a stroke, a patient’s hand often is fully clenched. In this rendering, only the ring and pinky fingers are flexed and da Vinci’s right hand is in the typical “ulnar claw” position.