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Drawing for a plate facing p.236, vol.II.i, of the first English version of J. C. Lavater's 'Essays on Physiognomy' translated by Henry Hunter, London, 1789–1798. Lavater measures the deviation of the foreheads from the perpendicular. However, ‘nature rejects continued perpendiculars’. The top row of heads are ‘scrutinising heads; anti-poetic’. The second level expresses caprice; the third level ‘compose a medley of every kind of irregularity’. Lavater includes repetitions of these designs in a slightly different context over pp.317–322 of vol.III.ii.
Title
Fifteen Contours of Foreheads
Date
c.1789
Medium
pencil on paper (?)
Measurements
H 22 x W 17.9 cm
Accession number
29347i
Acquisition method
presumed to be part of the collection formed by Henry S. Wellcome
Work type
Drawing & watercolour
Wellcome Collection
183 Euston Road, London, Greater London NW1 2BE England
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