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Heads and Figures of Various Types of People

John McLenan (American, 1827-1865)ca. 1859

The Walters Art Museum

The Walters Art Museum
Baltimore, United States

McLenan was originally a meat-packer in Cincinnati. He practiced drawing for his own amusement, but later adopted it as a career, emerging as a prolific illustrator. This illustration shows an interest in physiognomy and phrenology: reading character types through variations in facial features, such as red noses (indicating fondness for drink).

Details

  • Title: Heads and Figures of Various Types of People
  • Creator: John McLenan (American, 1827-1865)
  • Date Created: ca. 1859
  • External Link: For more information about this and thousands of other works of art in the Walters Art Museum collection, please visit art.thewalters.org
  • Roles: Artist: John McLenan (American, 1827-1865)
  • Provenance: William T. Walters, Baltimore; inherited by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1894; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
  • Object Type: drawings
  • Medium: pen and ink on paper
  • Inscriptions: [Initialed] lower right: J.McL.
  • Dimensions: Overall: 5 9/16 x 8 5/16 in. (14.1 x 21.1 cm)
  • Credit Line: Acquired by William T. Walters
  • Classification: Painting & Drawing
  • Accession Number: 37.1963

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