The sign of the body, between permanence and rupture Figures of the monstrous and deformed and educability in the 16th century Elements for an archaeology of disability

Our study relies on an artistic, cultural and philo sophical corpus. Between the theological monopoly and the medical one, art claims for its own authority when it comes to the attention shown to monstrosity, by asserting foundations for a thought opened to difference. From the first part of the century, many artists and writers are led by a breaking attitude against dominant social norms, and open themselves toward a modern, renewed sensibility, as can be seen in the case of Pontormo’s Deposition. One question rises straight away: what is the conscience of body and individuality at the XVIth century? I made a selection of authors, that, famous though they are in the cultural debate of their times, are not renowned in the field of teratology, but that nevertheless brought substantial contribution to the cause of deformity, hence revealing a new thought. As much important is, to our view, a choice of small stories that contributed to the raise of a concept of educability. Among them, we lay the stress on a significant episodes in the questioning of doxa concerning deformity at the XVIth century: French king Henri the IInd, who, despite social conventions, tried a first approach to educability.