Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832) 1833

Editor: So, this is Alvan Fisher's portrait of Johann Gaspar Spurzheim. What strikes me is Spurzheim pointing at the bust's forehead – it’s a rather assertive gesture. What do you make of it? Curator: It’s a sign of the times, really. Spurzheim was a leading proponent of phrenology, the now-debunked "science" of reading character from skull shape. It suggests a belief in mapping the mind. Can you imagine, our personalities dictated by bumps on our heads? It's fascinating and a bit unnerving, isn't it? Editor: Definitely a little unsettling. It makes you wonder what Fisher thought of it all, painting this. Curator: Precisely! And that ambiguity is where the real intrigue lies, don't you think? A portrait that's both a celebration and perhaps, a subtle critique.