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Melancholy and raving madness, Bedlam Hospital
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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
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Media ID 7187513
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10527509
1810s Asylum Bedlam Bethlehem Caius Chained Chains Cibber Figures Gabriel Gateway Health Illness Insane Land Mark Lunatic Madness Melancholy Mental Personification Personified Raving Statuary Statues Symbolic
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Beneath the imposing arches of the historic Bethlehem Hospital, also known as Bedlam, stand the haunting figures of Melancholy and Raving Madness. These evocative statues, created by the Danish sculptor Caius Gabriel Cibber in 1813, serve as both a landmark and a poignant reminder of the institution's past as a notorious asylum for the mentally ill. The statue of Melancholy, depicted as a woman with a pensive expression and a flowing robe, represents the quiet suffering and introspection that often accompanies depression and sadness. Her peaceful demeanor stands in stark contrast to the frenzied figure of Raving Madness, a man in chains, with wild eyes and a contorted expression, symbolizing the uncontrollable and chaotic nature of severe mental illness. These figures, once situated at the entrance to the hospital, were intended to be both a warning and a source of comfort for those entering the institution. The statue of Melancholy served as a reminder that mental illness was not a sign of weakness, but rather a legitimate medical condition deserving of compassion and understanding. Meanwhile, the statue of Raving Madness served as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the potential consequences of untreated mental illness. Cibber's statues, created in the early 1810s, are a testament to the complex and nuanced understanding of mental illness during this period. They continue to be a source of fascination and inspiration for artists, historians, and mental health advocates, and remain an enduring symbol of the human experience of mental illness.
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