Statues of "raving" and "melancholy" madness, each reclining on one half of a broken segmental pediment, formerly crowning the gates at Bethlem [Bedlam] Hospital. Engraving by W. Sharp, 1783, after T. Stothard after C. Cibber, 1680.

  • Cibber, Caius Gabriel, 1630-1700.
Date:
4 June 1783
Reference:
25633i
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Description

According to the text of Bowen, [p. 5]: "There is a tradition that the person represented by the figure of the melancholy lunatic, was porter to Oliver Cromwell." See also this catalogue number 25641i

Publication/Creation

London, 4 June 1783.

Physical description

1 print : engraving ; image 13.3 x 20.7 cm

Lettering

Bethlemii ad portas se tollit dupla columna ... ; Stothard delt. ; W. Sharp sculpt. ; Published as the Act directs Lettering continues: [Greek] Eikona tōn entos chōi lithos ektos echei ; Hic calvum ad dextram tristi caput ore reclinat, ; Vix illum ad laevam ferrea vinc'la tenet. ; Dissimilis furor est statuis; sed utrumque laborem, ; Et genium artificis laudat uterque furor. ; Lusus Westmonasterienses. Translation of the lettering: At the gates of Bethlem rises a double column, and on which the stone outside holds the image of those within. This one rests his bald head with a sad face on the right, that one on the left his iron chains hardly hold. To each statue there is a different kind of madness, but both madnesses praise the labour and the genius of the artist The lettering is attributed to "Lusus westmonasterienses", a collection of Latin and Greek verses written as exercises by the boys and masters of Westminster School

References note

Not in B. Adams, London illustrated, London, 1983

Reference

Wellcome Collection 25633i

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