French writer, historian and philosopher (1694–1778)

concept

Faces expressing the passions and showing the muscles relation to expression, with an explanation of the art of 'pathognomy', the reading of facial expression. Etching, c. 1800.

François-Marie Arouet, Voltaire. Photograph by E. Desmaisons after a lithograph (?)..

Elements of phrenology, physiognomy and palmistry, with diagrams of heads and hands, and portraits of historical figures. Colour lithograph, 1866.

Benjamin Franklin presents his young son to Voltaire for benediction. Halftone.

Voltaire instructing the infant Jacobinism. Coloured etching after J. Gillray, ca. 1800.

Relation de la maladie, de la confession, de la fin de M. de Voltaire, et de ce qui s'ensuivit / par moi, Joseph Dubois [i.e. N.J. Sélis].

Voltaire / by Henry Noel Brailsford.

Elements of phrenology, physiognomy and palmistry, with diagrams of heads and hands, and portraits of historical figures. Colour lithograph, late 19th century.

Nine caricature sketches of Voltaire (?). Drawing, c. 1793.

Saint Gregory the Great: elected pope, he receives obeisance from the cardinals. Engraving by S.C. Miger, 1770, after C. van Loo.

Jean le Rond d'Alembert. Line engraving by P. Maleuvre, 1775, after A. Pujos, 1774.

Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis. Line engraving by J. Daullé and J.G. Wille, 1741, after R. Levrac-Tournières, 1737.

Saint Gregory the Great: he holds up before a heretic woman the Host in which Christ crucified appears. Engraving by F. Voyez, 1769, after C. van Loo.

Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis pointing out the length of a degree on the longitude of meridian in Lapland to two people. Etching, 1753.

A week's conversation on the plurality of worlds. To which is prefixed, a memoir of the author's life and writings / by M. de Voltaire.

L'inoculazione giustificata ... ovvero dissertazione pratica e apologetica su questo metodo. Con un saggio sopra il cambiamento della voce ... / [S.A.D. Tissot] ; traduzione dal francese.

An essay on crimes and punishments / [C. Beccaria] ; translated from the Italian ; with a commentary, attributed to Mons. de Voltaire, translated from the French.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

Please note, due to essential maintenance work to our systems, you will be unable to request items in our collections; apply for, renew or pre-register for a library membership; or use our computers, laptops and printers from 06:00 on Saturday 12 July until 06:00 on Sunday 13 July. Our library will remain open as usual. Thank you for your understanding.

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Take part in research

Voltaire

Images from the collections

Images by Voltaire

Images featuring Voltaire

Works from the collections

A week's conversation on the plurality of worlds. To which is prefixed, a memoir of the author's life and writings / by M. de Voltaire.

L'inoculazione giustificata ... ovvero dissertazione pratica e apologetica su questo metodo. Con un saggio sopra il cambiamento della voce ... / [S.A.D. Tissot] ; traduzione dal francese.

Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis pointing out the length of a degree on the longitude of meridian in Lapland to two people. Etching, 1753.

An essay on crimes and punishments / [C. Beccaria] ; translated from the Italian ; with a commentary, attributed to Mons. de Voltaire, translated from the French.

Saint Gregory the Great: he holds up before a heretic woman the Host in which Christ crucified appears. Engraving by F. Voyez, 1769, after C. van Loo.

Voltaire

Images from the collections

Images by Voltaire

Images featuring Voltaire

Works from the collections

A week's conversation on the plurality of worlds. To which is prefixed, a memoir of the author's life and writings / by M. de Voltaire.

L'inoculazione giustificata ... ovvero dissertazione pratica e apologetica su questo metodo. Con un saggio sopra il cambiamento della voce ... / [S.A.D. Tissot] ; traduzione dal francese.

Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis pointing out the length of a degree on the longitude of meridian in Lapland to two people. Etching, 1753.

An essay on crimes and punishments / [C. Beccaria] ; translated from the Italian ; with a commentary, attributed to Mons. de Voltaire, translated from the French.

Saint Gregory the Great: he holds up before a heretic woman the Host in which Christ crucified appears. Engraving by F. Voyez, 1769, after C. van Loo.

Related topics