Term used to indicate the mixture of the innate aspects of the personality

concept

The four elements, four qualities, four humours, four seasons, and four ages of man. Airbrush by Lois Hague, 1991.

An opinionated child ignores his parents; representing the faculty of obstinacy in phrenology. Steel engraving, 1847, after H. Bruyères.

Phrenological head of Lord Ellenborough as Governor General of India 1841-1844. Lithograph, ca. 1844.

A bust showing a phlegmatic-sanguine temperament. Drawing, c. 1792.

A man sitting erect on a chair; representing pride as a type of the 'sentiment' of self esteem, a phrenological 'faculty'. Steel engraving by C. Devrits, 1847, after H. Bruyères.

Four physiognomies expressing the propensity to command. Drawing, c. 1792.

A woman whose physiognomy expresses (according to Lavater) weakness, affectation and languor. Engraving by Barlow, 19th century, after J.M. Schmutzer.

Profile of a man displaying a choleric temperament. Drawing, c. 1792.

A man woos a woman in a garden; representing the sanguine temperament. Engraving by R. Sadeler after M. de Vos.

A head containing over thirty images symbolising the phrenological faculties. Wood engraving, c. 1845, after O.S. Fowler (?).

A man whose physiognomy expresses penetration, quickness, and a talent for communication. Drawing, c. 1789.

An Italian brigand attacking a gentleman on a road; exhibiting the phrenological 'propensity' of 'destructiveness'. Steel engraving by S. Wolff, 1847, after H. Bruyères.

An ideal head, yet according to Lavater, destitute of character. Drawing, c. 1792.

Galeni Pergamensis De temperamentis : et De inaeqvali intemperie libri tres, Thomas Linacro Anglo interprete. Opus non medicis modo, sed et philosophis oppido q[uem] necessariu[m] nunc primum prodit in lucem cvm gratia & priuilegio / impressum apud praeclaram Cantabrigiam per Joannem Siberch, anno MDXXI : reproduced in exact facsimile : with an introduction by Joseph Frank Payne.

The optick glasse of hvmors. Or, the touchstone of a golden temperature, or the Philosophers stone to make a golden temper / Wherein the foure complections sanguine, cholericke, phligmaticke, melancholicke are succinctly painted forth, and their externall intimates laid open to the purblind eye of ignorance itselfe, by which euery one may judge of what complection he is, and answerably learne what is most sutable to his nature. By T.W. Master of the Artes.

Miscellanea Medica XIV

Four men of different temperaments looking at a painting of a dying man. Engraving by Grignion after D. Chodowiecki.

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Temperament

Images from the collections

Images referencing Temperament

Works from the collections

An ideal head, yet according to Lavater, destitute of character. Drawing, c. 1792.

Miscellanea Medica XIV

Four men of different temperaments looking at a painting of a dying man. Engraving by Grignion after D. Chodowiecki.

Temperament

Images from the collections

Images referencing Temperament

Works from the collections

An ideal head, yet according to Lavater, destitute of character. Drawing, c. 1792.

Miscellanea Medica XIV

Four men of different temperaments looking at a painting of a dying man. Engraving by Grignion after D. Chodowiecki.

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