Raving Collection

Screaming Lord Sutch
DAVID SCREAMING LORD SUTCH British politician, musician and maverick, founder of the Official Monster Raving Looney Party (1983). Sadly, a manic depressive, committed suicide. Date: 1940 - 1999

Rave under way at the Astoria in London. Pictures taken: 31st October 1993

Melancholy and raving madness, Bedlam Hospital
The figures of melancholy and raving madness over the gateway into Bethlehem(Bedlam)Hospital. Statues by the Danish sculptor Caius Gabriel Cibber Date: 1813

Faust in Witches Kitchen
Methinks, a million fools in choir are raving and will never tire

Peter Tatchell and others, Bermondsey by-election
Peter Gary Tatchell (b 1952), Australian-born British political activist. Seen here (second from left) as the Labour Party candidate at the declaration of votes for a by-election in Bermondsey

A Rakes Progress VIII: The Rake in Bedlam, 1733 (oil on canvas)
SJS2005 A Rakes Progress VIII: The Rake in Bedlam, 1733 (oil on canvas) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 62.2x75 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum

Paris, Les folles a la Salpetriere (engraving)
3623937 Paris, Les folles a la Salpetriere (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Paris, Les folles a la Salpetriere)

A Rakes Progress VI: The Rake at a Gaming House, 1733 (oil on canvas)
SJS72328 A Rakes Progress VI: The Rake at a Gaming House, 1733 (oil on canvas) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764); 62.2x75 cm; Courtesy of the Trustees of Sir John Soanes Museum

King of the Waterfalls
The king is astounded as the ugly crop-haired girl is transformed into a raving beauty as she stoops to pick up some shamrock. (Irish story)

Fred. George Jackson
Sir FREDERICK GEORGE JACKSON Explorer in the Arctic, with two of his bear-dogs, Nimrod and Raving. Date: 1860 - 1938

A Peep into Bethlehem, c. 1793 (etching)
XJF465156 A Peep into Bethlehem, c.1793 (etching) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); Private Collection; (add.info.: A satirical etching showing satirist John Walcot (1738-1819)

Earl of Halsbury and Erskine try to control Irish MP Tanner
The Story of Rackety Tanner (cont.). Hardinge Stanley Giffard, The Earl of Halsbury (1823-1921) - Three times Lord Chancellor of Great Britain and Sir Henry David Erskine (1838-1921)

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"Raving: A Melancholy Madness Unleashed" Step into the world of raving, where melancholy and madness intertwine like a chaotic dance. From the haunting halls of Bedlam Hospital to the electrifying beats that echo through London's Astoria, this cultural phenomenon has left an indelible mark on history. Intriguing characters have emerged from this realm of euphoria and chaos. The enigmatic Screaming Lord Sutch, with his wild performances and eccentric persona, embodied the spirit in all its untamed glory. Like Faust in Witches Kitchen, he dared to push boundaries and challenge societal norms. But it wasn't just about music; raving became a platform for political expression too. Peter Tatchell and others seized the opportunity during the Bermondsey by-election to rally support amidst pulsating rhythms. It was a fusion of rebellion and celebration that defined an era. On that fateful night of October 31st, 1993, cameras captured moments frozen in time at the Astoria rave. Faces illuminated by neon lights reflected pure bliss or perhaps even fleeting glimpses of madness - reminiscent of Hogarth's "A Rake's Progress VIII: The Rake in Bedlam. " This oil on canvas masterpiece depicted society's descent into chaos as pleasure turned into obsession. Across Europe, Les folles à la Salpêtrière engraving showcased another facet - a glimpse into Parisian revelry tinged with both ecstasy and despair. As if mirroring Hogarth's work once again, "A Rake's Progress VI: The Rake at a Gaming House" revealed how indulgence could lead to ruin within opulent walls. Yet amidst this whirlwind lay hidden gems waiting to be discovered – like Fred George Jackson known as 'King of Waterfalls. ' His polar expedition engraved him forever in history alongside his loyal bear-dogs Nimrod and Raving.