The head of a man with goitre. Etching by Jusepe de Ribera, 1622.

According to Brown (p.72) the print shows "a benign tumor called Von Recklinhausen [sic] Disease (multiple neurofibromata)". However, its resemblance to another print by Ribera which, according to F. Merke (Geschichte und Ikonographie des endemischen Kropfes und Kretinismus, Bern 1971, p. 330) shows a man with goitre, suggests a diagnosis of goitre (goiter) for this print also, although the goitres in the present print are not so prominent. Bartsch had already given this diagnosis in his description ("On lui voit un goître au cou.")