Figure 2

Madonna of the Egg (1472) by Piero della Francesca. Pinacoteca of the Brera Academy, Milan, Italy. In this painting, the 50-year-old Duke is genuflecting and is again depicted in a left lateral view. Observation of the neck moving posteroinferiorly demonstrates the transition between skin and armor. The contour of the silver-colored armor is convex and quite striking, especially when viewed against the red cloak of the figure behind the Duke. What confounds this area is the Duke's red and gold damask cape that hangs down his back. However, the intersection of the armor and the cape reveals the prominent inferior bend of the thoracic hyperkyphosis, which is present at the same vertebral levels as in Figure 1. Apparently, his custom-made armor was crafted to accommodate his hyperkyphosis. (Reproduced with permission from the Pinacoteca of the Brera Academy, Milan.)