New research suggests that Simonetta Vespucci, the 15th-century Florentine beauty believed to have inspired Sandro Botticelli's iconic works "The Birth of Venus" and "Primavera," may have died from a ruptured brain tumor, with a violent sexual assault or intense physical exertion cited as potential contributing factors.
Historically, Vespucci's death at the age of 23 in 1476 was attributed to tuberculosis. However, scientists from Queen Mary University of London propose that she suffered from a pituitary adenoma, a common benign tumor on the pituitary gland. The study, which analyzed five portraits of Vespucci using a facial recognition algorithm, identified signs consistent with this diagnosis.
According to the researchers, the tumor could have expanded, leading to a condition known as tumor apoplexy—a sudden medical emergency. Senior author Paolo Pozzilli stated that the "violent movement of the rape may have contributed to accelerating a rupturing of the casing of the pituitary gland which was already tumorous, leading to her death." Alternatively, strenuous activity such as dancing could have also triggered the rupture.
First author Domiziana Nardelli cited historical accounts from letters between Piero Vespucci and Lorenzo de Medici, describing Simonetta's final days. She reportedly collapsed during a ball and subsequently suffered from severe headaches, hallucinations, vomiting, and fever while resting in a darkened room. These symptoms align with those of a rapidly expanding pituitary tumor.
The study also posits that Vespucci's characteristic eye squint, often depicted in art and later considered a sign of piety and beauty, might have been a symptom of the pituitary tumor. "It's possible that the irregular eye positioning in the Birth of Venus – the 'strabismus' or squint later considered a trait of piety and beauty – may be caused by the pituitary tumour," Pozzilli noted.
Further analysis of Botticelli's "Allegorical Portrait of a Woman," believed to be of Vespucci, revealed another potential indicator: lactation. Dr. Nardelli explained that this portrayal is surprising given that Vespucci had no children, suggesting it could represent a physical symptom of a prolactin-growth hormone secreting adenoma.
This is not the first instance of researchers identifying potential medical conditions depicted in Renaissance art. In 2024, a study analyzing Michelangelo's "The Flood" in the Sistine Chapel suggested signs of breast cancer, including a deformed nipple and a breast lump, in one of the figures. Researchers at the University of Paris-Saclay interpreted this depiction as a possible commentary on the inevitability of death.