For Art Lovers Only

Henry-Marie Beyle

Has this ever happened to you? You are standing in front of a beautiful painting and suddenly you feel faint, maybe dizzy, your heart pounds and you must find a place to sit down. Maybe it has happened while listening to an especially moving piece of music. Well, if it has you are not alone. You are the victim of the Stendahl Syndrome.

The Stendahl Syndrome is a recognized psychosomatic illness first described by French author Henry-Marie Beyle in 1817. His pseudonym was Stendahl. He described his experience while visiting Florence in his book, Naples and Florence: A Journey From Milan To Reggio. Confusion and hallucinations can also occur.

Although there are many descriptions of people becoming dizzy and fainting while taking in Florentine art, especially at the Uffizi Gallery, dating from the early 19th century on, the syndrome was only named in 1979, when it was medically described by Italian psychiatrist, Graziella Magherini, who observed and described more than 100 similar cases among tourists and visitors to Florence.

Psychiatrists label this condition an illness. I guess my point would be that if I can be so deeply moved by a work of art then I would consider myself fortunate and would rather be ill than "normal."

Just paint it!