This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
Veláquez, Diego Rodriquez de Silva, left a number of paintings of medical interest. El Niño de Vallecas, or the child of Vallecas, is one of these. Here one sees a typical idiot, showing all the stigmas of central degeneration of the nervous system. The nucleus of the third nerve has been affected, as shown in the right eye. The right side of the face is flattened; the body and extremities are short and undeveloped. This is one of the best examples of idiocy depicted by an artist. The photograph is by Hanfstaengl, Munich. The original painting is in the Museo du Prado at Madrid.