Piety

Charles Bennett

1860

Wood engraving; engraved by Joseph Swain

4 x 3½ inches

Illustration for Bunyan’sThe Pilgrim’s Progress, facing p. 52.

Another example of Bennett’s talent for characterisation, this time inscribing moral goodness in the features of a woman’s face. [continues below]

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Scanned image and text by Simon Cooke.

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The schema is in strict accordance with Lavater’s physiognomical theory (showing a clear brow, large eyes and small mouth), but the absurdity of the notion that looks reveal character is surely evident. Without the caption, ‘Piety’, it could just as easily read as ‘Liar’ (the pinched mouth) or ‘Schemer’ (the intent eyes). Drawn in outline, the image pays homage to Germanic models, as specified by Charles Kingsley, who endorsed the publication and wrote an introduction to accompany it.

References

Bunyan, John, with an introduction by Charles Kingsley.The Pilgrim’s Progress. London: Longman, Green, Longman, & Roberts, 1860.

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Last modified 29 March 2014