Eugenia Martínez Vallejo was a young girl from Spain who lived in the late 17th century and became famous for her extraordinary size and weight. She was the subject of two portraits by the court painter Juan Carreño de Miranda, who called her “The Monster”. She suffered from a rare genetic disorder that caused her to have an insatiable appetite and severe obesity. What was her life like and what was the cause of her death?
Early Life and Diagnosis
Eugenia was born in 1674 in a small village in Burgos, Spain, to poor parents. Her mother gave birth to her in a church after her water broke during mass. As an infant, Eugenia had a normal appetite, and any initial weight gain was considered a good sign, as slightly heavier frames on women were preferred at the time. However, by the time she was one year old, she had already reached a weight of 25 kg (55 lbs). By the age of six, she weighed 70 kg (155 lbs) .
Her condition attracted the attention of the Spanish regent Charles II, who summoned her to his court in Madrid in 1680. He was fascinated by her appearance and ordered his court painter, Juan Carreño de Miranda, to create two full-body portraits of her: one clothed and one nude. The paintings are titled The Monster – Dressed and The Monster – Nude respectively . They show Eugenia as a sad and uncomfortable girl, with a large head, short limbs, small hands and feet, and a protruding belly.
Eugenia’s condition is now thought to be the result of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a genetic disorder that affects the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and other functions. PWS causes low muscle tone, delayed development, cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, and hyperphagia (excessive eating) . People with PWS have a constant feeling of hunger that leads them to overeat and become obese. PWS also affects the production of sex hormones, resulting in underdeveloped genitals and infertility .
Life at Court and Death
Eugenia did not have a happy life at the royal court. She was treated as a curiosity or a freak, and served as a source of shock and amusement for the aristocrats. She fulfilled the role of a jester, along with other people with physical deformities or disabilities who were exploited for entertainment . There are no records of any financial compensation given to her or her family, and it is likely that she was only brought in during certain events .
Eugenia died in 1699, at the age of 25. The exact cause of her death is unknown, but it could have been related to her obesity or other complications from PWS. Some possible causes are heart failure, respiratory failure, diabetes, infections, or choking .
Legacy and Recognition
Eugenia’s portraits are currently held by the Museo del Prado in Madrid . They are considered masterpieces of Baroque art and have been praised for presenting Eugenia with dignity and realism. However, some critics have argued that the paintings are dehumanizing and exploitative, and reflect the cruel attitude of the society towards people with disabilities .
In 1997, a sculpture by Amado González Hevia, also known as “Favila”, was commissioned for the city of Avilés. He created a bronze statue of Eugenia, which stands on calle Carreño Miranda and is popular with tourists .
Eugenia’s story is also an example of how medical knowledge has advanced over time. In 1941, Spanish polymath Gregorio Marañón hypothesized that she had Cushing’s disease, a condition caused by excess cortisol in the body . However, in 1987, American pediatrician Michael J. Goldberg suggested that she had PWS, based on her symptoms and appearance . PWS was first described in 1956 by Swiss doctors Andrea Prader, Heinrich Willi, and Alexis Labhart .
Eugenia Martínez Vallejo was a girl who suffered from a rare disorder that made her life difficult and miserable. She was exploited by the royal court and portrayed as a monster by the painter. She died young and without dignity. Her story is a reminder of how people with disabilities have been mistreated and marginalized throughout history.
