Professors considering whether a pair of conjoined twins should be separated after the death of one of them; representing a political discussion in Bradford about the separation of two factions (?). Coloured lithograph, 1868.

Date:
[1868?]
Reference:
678126i
Part of:
I & A
  • Pictures
  • Online

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Description

"Ripley" may be Sir Henry William Ripley, 1st Bt., elected Member of Parliament (Liberal) for Bradford in the general election 17 November-7 December 1868, but his election was overturned on petition in 1869; elected Member of Parliament (Conservative) for Bradford 1874-1880. "Alfred" may be Alfred Illingworth (1827-1907), elected Member of Parliament (Liberal) for Knaresborough in 1868-1874, and Member of Parliament (Liberal) for Bradford in 1880 (defeating the Conservative, his former Liberal ally Henry William Ripley), holding the seat until 1895. The description of Illingworth in the ODNB ("tall, spare, alert, ruddy-bearded, and hawk-visaged") fits the twin on the left of the present print (but "Alfred" is named as the commentator, not as the twin). The men standing around seem to be portraits of specific people, perhaps active in Yorkshire politics

Publication/Creation

[Bradford?] : [publisher not identified], [1868?]

Physical description

1 print : lithograph, with watercolour (?) ; image and lettering 25.7 x 37 cm.

Series

Lettering

Doctors consultation. Separation decided upon. Professor Ripley to operate. Alfred's speech, on the Siamese twins, delivered at Knaresbro' Augt. 20th. 1868, before a large and crowded audience. ... See Bradford daily telegraph Aug.t 21st Lettering includes speech: "Some of you will know that there exists such a curiosity as the Siamese twins. They were a number of years ago exhibited in England, and have latterly been in America. These two extraordinary beings are held together by an integument that it hitherto has been thought to be almost impossible to sever. The health of one of the twins is giving way, and the prospect before the man in health is terrible. He is carrying with him a diseased human being who in a short time may be a corpse. Can you imagine a human being placed in more distressing circumstances? In order to save the life of the sound individual the highest physicians have been consulted, and the twins are going to *Paris? in order that an operation may take place to separate the two men. *Bradford"

Reference

Wellcome Collection 678126i

Type/Technique

Languages

Subjects

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

Permanent link