In Mexico, Pre-Columbian figurines depicting individuals afflicted by disease have survived. A delicate jade figurine from the Olmec nation, known as “The Olmeca child,” resembles Diego de Velázquez’s painting “The child of Vallecas.” Both pieces masterfully portray young individuals with congenital hypothyroidism and cretinism. The Olmec figurine is believed to be a realistic portrait of a person with this condition. Velázquez’s painting is thought to depict a young, mentally retarded dwarf through photographic precision. Various artists have recreated the Velázquian motif, adding unique and creative interpretations, showing the enduring influence of these representations over time.
https://hekint.org/2017/01/25/the-anonymous-olmec-artisan-and-velazquez/