Description
Phrenology, a pseudoscience, argued that a person's intelligence and character were determined by the size of their head and different areas of their brains. Busts and masks were common for teaching and learning phrenology.

We don't know much about who the person of whom this bust was made, only that he lived in Amsterdam and had a learning disability. In the 19th Century, intellectual disabilities began to be researched more. Terms like 'idiot' were widely used in medical fields and later popularised in everyday language. The word is considered offensive nowadays.

The distinctive facial features and presumed intellectual disabilities were possibly caused by Seckel Syndrome. There are two similar busts at the Vrolik Museum, the Netherlands, and their labels describe Seckel Syndrome.
27/02/2023
Created by: Guey-Mei Hsu on 27/02/2023

Description
This phrenological cast of a man's head by James de Ville was made in circa 1830. In the 19th century, 'idiot' was employed as a non-derogatory psychological classification for those with a significant learning difficulties. Phrenology, now proven to be a pseudo-science, proposed that specific areas of the brain were responsible for different characteristics, which, as their size varied, would reflect the person's character and abilities.

[2018 Main Gallery label]
27/02/2023
Created by: Guey-Mei Hsu on 27/02/2023