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Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum
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Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum
531972 Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) American showman: co-founder of Barnum and Bailey circus. Edward Linley Sambourne cartoon from Punch London 1884 in the Fancy Portraits series showing Barnum as a wily fox exploiting peoples phrenological bump of Credulity. At this time Gall and Spurzheims idea that physical formation of skull was related to mental capacity, Engraving by Sambourne, Edward Linley (1844-1910); Universal History Archive/UIG; English, out of copyright
Media ID 23177186
© Universal History Archive/UIG / Bridgeman Images
1884 Bailey Barnum Bump Capacity Circus Co Founder Edward Fancy Formation Gall Idea Linley Mental Phrenological Phrenology Physical Punch Related Sambourne Series Showman Skull Taylor Time Wily 1810 1891 Credulity Exploiting Phineas Spurzheim
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the essence of Phineas Taylor Barnum, the renowned American showman and co-founder of Barnum and Bailey circus. The image, a engraving by Edward Linley Sambourne from Punch London in 1884, is part of the Fancy Portraits series. In this particular cartoon, Sambourne portrays Barnum as a cunning fox taking advantage of people's phrenological bump of Credulity. During that era, there was a prevailing belief that the physical formation of one's skull was directly linked to their mental capacity. Gall and Spurzheims' ideas on phrenology were gaining popularity at the time. This engraving cleverly depicts Barnum exploiting this pseudoscience for his own entertainment purposes. Barnum's legacy as an entertainer is well-documented, but this image sheds light on his shrewdness in understanding human psychology and society's fascination with medical theories. It serves as a reminder that he was not only an exceptional showman but also a master manipulator who knew how to captivate audiences through spectacle. The Fine Art Finder has preserved this historical piece from Bridgeman Images' collection without any commercial use intentions. By showcasing this artwork, we are able to appreciate both its artistic value and its significance in capturing an intriguing moment in history when entertainment intertwined with medicine and public curiosity collided with exploitation.
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