concept

An itinerant poor saleswoman selling hearthstones. Etching by J.T. Smith, 1816.

An itinerant salesman with artificial arms selling the bootlaces that hang from the hooks of his hands. Etching by J.T. Smith, 1816.

An itinerant salesman selling hot peas from the pot he carries under his right arm. Etching by J.T. Smith, 1815.

Matthew Robinson-Morris, second Baron Rokeby, an eccentric. Stipple engraving by R. Page.

Le Chevalier Michel Descazeaux du Halley, an eccentric. Drawing.

Jane Shore (mistress of King Edward IV), Henry Hastings (Dorset landowner and sportsman), Jedediah Buxton (mental calculator), and Mary Davis (with horns). Etching, 1808.

Baron D'Aguilar, an eccentric merchant farmer with starving animals, and farm buildings in the background. Stipple engraving.

Henry Dimsdale, an eccentric who calls himself 'Mayor of Garratt'. Stipple engraving by R. Cooper.

Filippo Giuliani, a 'water-drinker'. Line engraving, 1680.

Le Chevalier Michel Descazeaux du Halley, an eccentric. Stipple engraving by R. Cooper, 1821.

A man with an artificial arm selling live haddock from a basket he suspends from the hook on his left shoulder. Etching by J.T. Smith, 1815.

John Brown, walking. Etching by J. Kay, 1819.

A beggar woman selling wares from a basket in her right hand. Etching by J. T. Smith, 1815.

Miss Whitehead, an eccentric, known as the 'Bank Nun'. Coloured lithograph by G.L. Lee.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

All of Wellcome Collection, including our library, café and shop, will be closed on Monday 4 November for staff training. We will open again as usual on Tuesday 5 November.

We’re undertaking some research with website visitors to learn more about how people find access-related information provided by museums. This survey shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

Help us organize our website content.

Eccentrics and eccentricities

Images

Catalogue

A man with an artificial arm selling live haddock from a basket he suspends from the hook on his left shoulder. Etching by J.T. Smith, 1815.

John Brown, walking. Etching by J. Kay, 1819.

An itinerant salesman selling hot peas from the pot he carries under his right arm. Etching by J.T. Smith, 1815.

A beggar woman selling wares from a basket in her right hand. Etching by J. T. Smith, 1815.

Miss Whitehead, an eccentric, known as the 'Bank Nun'. Coloured lithograph by G.L. Lee.