Genius loner with no people skills

By JAMES BURLEIGH

The exquisite ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, the Pieta, the statue of David - Michelangelo's works have long been recognised as the creations of a true genius. But two medical experts now believe the renowned Renaissance artist could have suffered from a form of autism.

Dr Muhammad Arshad, staff psychiatrist at Whiston Hospital in Prescott, Merseyside, and Professor Michael Fitzgerald, from Trinity College, Dublin, have concluded that the Italian artist may have suffered from Asperger's syndrome.

The claims have been rubbished by art historians.

Outlining their evidence in the Journal of Medical Biography, Arshad and Fitzgerald said: "Michelangelo's single-minded work routine, unusual lifestyle, limited interests, poor social and communication skills, and various issues of life control appear to be features of high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome."

The report added: "He was a loner, self-absorbed, and gave his undivided attention to his masterpieces - a feature of autism."

James Hall, an art historian who has just written Michelangelo and the Reinvention of the Human Body, dismissed the claims.

Hall said: "There is simply no evidence he had any medical problems of this nature. He wrote poetry, was extremely articulate and worked to an extremely high level well into his 80s. After all, the character traits they are referring to - obsessional behaviour, fiery temper, propensity to be a loner - could be linked to many artists. Or newspaper editors for that matter. This deconstruction of artists along medical lines seems to be a sort of vogue among certain doctors. One recently said El Greco's distinctive painting style was the result of a squint."

People with Asperger's syndrome - also known as high-functioning autism - have difficulties with communication and social interaction but often show an unusual, often obsessional, talent or skill in a particular area.

Some sufferers display remarkable abilities in music, drawing or mathematics.

According to Arshad and Fitzgerald, research into the 16th-century sculptor and painter's life - taken from numerous works, including notes from the artist's assistant and his family - all pointed to Michelangelo suffering from high-functioning autism.

Michelangelo di Ludovico Buonarroti, born in 1475, had a troubled childhood, being frequently beaten by his father, the pair noted. Aged 14, he began a three-year apprenticeship with the famous artist Domenico Ghirlandaio, who said the boy knew more about drawing than he did.

However, his dexterity with brush and chisel was in sharp contrast to his complete inability to conduct normal human relationships.

Arshad and Fitzgerald said: "Michelangelo was aloof and a loner. Like the architect John Nash, who also had high-functioning autism, he had few friends."

The artist was also unable to show emotion, as demonstrated by his failure to attend his brother's funeral, according to the two experts.

He was also obsessive (particularly with regard to money and nudity) and followed repetitive routines. Loss of control caused him "great frustration", the report said, and he focused so much on his work that he toiled eight years over The Last Judgement. His highly retentive memory also allowed him to generate, in a short time, many hundreds of sketches for the Sistine ceiling - no two alike, nor any pose similar.

The report also said Michelangelo found communication and conversation difficult. He could rarely be engaged in long discussions and would often walk off in the middle of an exchange.

"He was bad tempered and had anger outbursts," they added. He had a sarcastic wit and was "paranoid at times, narcissistic and schizoid".

He was also described as "strange, without affect, and isolated" as well as being "preoccupied with his own private reality".

- INDEPENDENT