Tag Archives: 19th Century

1846: The Temple of Time

Emma Willard was a pioneer in Women’s education, opening the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York in 1821—the first institution of higher education for women in the United States. The school was later renamed The Emma Willard School in … Continue reading

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1816: Spirit of the Vale of Neath

Thomas Hornor: Spirit of the Vale of Neath – Day and Spirit of the Vale of Neath – Night (1816)

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1882: Jumbo

An anecdote from Matthew Scott’s biography of Jumbo the Elephant (1885): Once when I was riding him around in the Zoological Gardens, in London, sitting on his neck, with about a dozen children on a panier-saddle across his broad back, … Continue reading

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1848: The Devil’s Violin

Costume design by Paul Lormier for the 1849 ballet Le violon du diable (source).

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1909: The Seven Ravens

The good little sister took a knife and cut off her own tiny finger, fitted it into the keyhole, and succeeded in opening the lock. When she had entered, she met a Dwarf, who said: “My child, what are you … Continue reading

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19th Century: Provenance Unknown

Portrait of a child holding a lizard. Nineteenth or twentieth century, maybe American.

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1889: Artist-in-Residence

The celebrated 19th century French painter and sculptor Rosa Bonheur was known for wearing men’s pants, shirts, and ties, as well as participating in traditionally masculine activities such as hunting and smoking. She lived with her lifelong partner, Nathalie Micas … Continue reading

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1808: Portrait of a Horse’s Ass

Henry Raeburn: Portrait of George Harley Drummond (ca. 1808–9); “It is curious…that the animal’s hindquarters should be so prominently displayed” says the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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1750: First Sleep, Second Sleep

That dreaming is a less sound species of sleep, appears from the familiar fact, which has probably been observed by every individual; viz. that the first sleep is much freer from it than the second. We retire to rest, fatigued … Continue reading

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1832: The Destructive Sphinx

Illustrations from The Book of Butterflies, Sphinxes and Moths; illustrated by one hundred and forty-four engravings, coloured after nature; in three volumes (Thomas Brown, 1832-4)                  

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