Did Rembrandt's Bathsheba really have breast cancer?

Background: Rembrandt's Bathsheba (Louvre, Paris) reveals an abnormality of the left breast and axilla. Previously breast cancer has been suggested as the probable diagnosis.

Methods: The present paper reviews the clinical history as well as the clinical findings.

Results: Inconsistencies, pitfalls in the diagnosis and the consequences of the possibility of a different model for the body of the figure are discussed.

Conclusion: An alternative diagnosis of an infective process such as tuberculous mastitis or, less likely, chronic lactational breast abscess is suggested.