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.

Reference:
35055i
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Description

The central top figures are analysed in the text according to their most pronounced muscles; the left-hand face shows scorn and the central one shows a fleshiness of muscle exhibiting a tendency to indolence and laughter. The profiles to the far left and right are of Voltaire and Samuel Johnson respectively. The central image is a face showing "the muscles as they appear after the skin is taken off". The bottom row shows a lion and a horse on each side, and two faces borrowed from Charles Le Brun's 'Passions': admiration and joy with tranquility. The bottom image of a dog is marked with letters, relating to the muscles of the face

Publication/Creation

Pimlico : W. Byam

Physical description

1 print : etching

Lettering

Explanation of pathognomy, or the signs of the passions. ... Lettering continues: "Pathognomy includes, not only the expression given to the face by the violent action of certain muscles in the moment of excitement, but also a general conformity at all times suiting the exhibition of particular passions, by a strength and mobility of some muscles; a smoothing or swelling of others; by their sinking & contraction; by their appearance and imperceptibility, and by their inundation ..." [continues extensively]

Reference

Wellcome Collection 35055i

Type/Technique

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