Physiognomy and the Meaning of Expression in Nineteenth-Century Culture

InPhysiognomyandtheMeaningofExpressioninNineteenth-CenturyCulture,LucyHartleyexaminestheemergenceofphysiognomyasaformofpopularscience.Physiognomypositedanunderstandingoftheinnermeaningofhumancharacterfromobservationsofphysicalappearances,usuallyfacialexpressions.TakingthephysiognomicalteachingsofJohannCasparLavaterasastarting-point,Hartleyconsiderstheextenttowhichattemptstoreadthemindandjudgecharacterthroughexpressioncanprovidedescriptionsofhumannature.ShearguesthatthewritingsofCharlesBell,andthePre-RaphaelitesestablishthesignificanceofthephysiognomicaltraditionforthestudyofexpressionwhilstalsopreparingthegroundfortheriseofnewdoctrinesfortheexpressionofemotionbyAlexanderBainandHerbertSpencer.ShethendemonstrateshowtheevolutionaryexplanationofexpressionproposedbySpencerandCharlesDarwinisboththeoutcomeofthephysiognomicaltraditionandthereasonforitsdissolution.