An Old Maid's Skull Phrenologised

Item Information

Title:
An Old Maid's Skull Phrenologised
Description:
This English satiric print illustrates some of the absurdities associated with phrenology, as the traits and marked skulls of dogs, birds, and horses are treated on a par with humans. The phrenologist "Doctor S." may be intended to represent Johann Gaspar Spurzheim. The Inscription on the recto of the image reads: "Old Maid: Doctor A., when you have examined all my bumps, I'll trouble you to explain the faculties, sympathies & propensities of my dear poodle Pompey. Doctor S.: Miss Strangeways! I can distinctly enumerate thro' the aid of my Patent Skullmeter, that your cranium contains 16,542 1/2 Mental faculties, which I shall by my scale of individuality describe on a future occasion. As for your Poodle Pompey, his prominent bumps are Uxoriousness and Philoprogenitiveness!!!" Satiric print showing "Doctor S." examining the skull of a woman, with a dialogue between the two written underneath the image
Creator:
Lamber, E. F.
Contributor:
Hunt, F. C. (printmaker)
Date:
1830
Genre:
aquatint on paper
Location:
Center for the History of Medicine (Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine)
Collection (local):
Manfred Kraemer Collection of Medical Prints and Satires
Series:
Manfred Kraemer Collection of Medical Prints and Satires
Subjects:
Phrenology
Spurzheim, J. G. (Johann Gaspar), 1776-1832
Lamber, E. F. (artist)
Hunt, F. C. (printmaker)
Satires (document genre)
Prints (visual works)
Extent:
1 print
Link to Item:
http://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/6159
Terms of Use:
The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all materials in this collection. For use information, consult Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Harrison Isaacs
Notes:
Gift of the Maine Medical Center Foundation to Harvard Medical School, 1991