Congenital Horner Syndrome in art: the case of a historical Austro-Hungarian soldier: Horner Syndrome: Art and Medicine

Abstract

One of the most important characteristics, which determine facial appearance, is eye colour. Among the different conditions that causes an alteration in the normal iris pigmentation is congenital Horner Syndrome. Here we describe a case of right unilateral segmental heterochromia iridum in the historical portrait “Portrait of an unknown soldier” displayed at the Ferdinandeum Tyrolean State Museum (Innsbruck, Austria). Along with heterochromia, the sitter also displays right anisocoria, miosis, and mild ptosis of the upper and lower lids. This case highlights the interest of artists for modification of facial appearance in order to represent the sitter in the most possible realistic way.