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  • Article

Parasites and pests from the medieval to the modern

Humans have been reluctant hosts to a plethora of unpleasant parasites for centuries. And medieval evidence shows our modern distaste for these little irritations is just as ancient.

  • Article

Cowpox, Covid-19 and Jenner’s vaccination legacy

The well-known story of vaccination pioneer Edward Jenner has at its heart his drive to make vaccines free of charge and available to all. Now his principles extend to the global campaign for a people’s patent-free vaccine for Covid-19.

  • Article

Befriending heavy breathers

Read the fascinating story behind the rare manual that helped volunteers on one of Britain’s first free telephone helplines to deal with masturbating callers.

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Images

  • A dilapidated hay wain, pulled by emaciated donkeys (Mental and Physical Weakness) is driven by a young man (Torpor) and carries two women in rags (Poverty and Humility) while three women (Fragility, Patience and Servitude) accompany the cart; representing the attributes of human existence. Engraving by Cornelis Cort, 1564, after M. van Heemskerck.
  • A plant (Stenomesson humile): flowering stems. Coloured engraving by G. Barclay, c. 1842, after W. Herbert.
  • Saint Carlo Borromeo. Line engraving by F. Spagnoli after C. Belgiojoso.
  • A female figure in an attitude of respectful piety. Drawing, c. 1794.
  • Christ washes the feet of the apostles. Etching by R. Stang after J.F. Overbeck, 1847.
  • Christ lies on the ground, beaten and mocked. Etching by L. Simonneau after himself.
  • Christ enters Jerusalem on an ass. Etching by F.P. Massau after J.F. Overbeck, 1849.
  • Christ tells the apostles that to be as humble as a child makes one the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Etching by A. Pflugfelder after J.F. Overbeck, 1846.
  • The binding and flagellation of Christ. Drawing by F. Rosaspina, c. 1830, after L. Carracci.
  • The flagellation of Christ. Etching by H. Nüsser after J.F. Overbeck, 1843.
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Catalogue

All works (142)