https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4719-508X
Figures & data
Figure 1. Black/white and cropped reproductions of right/left positioning in famous paintings, the more affluent person (man) or the good (virtue) is depicted on the right side of the objective scene, whereas the lesser person (woman) or the bad (sin) is represented on the left of the actual scene. Clockwise from top left: The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, 1434; The devil holding up the Book of Vices to Saint Augustine, 1483, by Michael Pacher; Hercules at the crossroad by Annibale Carracci, 1596; Portrait of a Married Couple by Anthony Van Dyck, ca.1620.
Table 1. It is custom in couple portraits to depict the perceived more affluent person on the right of the subjective scene, i.e., on the left visual field of the observer. Here are some famous examples.
Figure 2. Examples of classic paintings depicting Adam and Eve (particulars). Eve is depicted on the left of the actual scene, right side from the observer’s viewpoint.
Table 2. The first 33 images returned from the Google search were considered for each of three time-windows. Number of times (and relative percentage) Eve is portrayed on the left side of the objective scene is reported.
Data availability statement
The material used in this study and the experimental data that support its findings are fully available on the Open Science Framework at: https://osf.io/h98se/. Any further information relevant to the replication of the study will be made available upon reasonable request.