Castration Collection

Castration 17th Century
A fearful patient is restrained on a low couch and castrated

Illustration for Three Blind Mice (colour litho)
5998547 Illustration for Three Blind Mice (colour litho) by Caldwell, Edmund G. (1852-1930); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for The Diverting History of Three Blind Mice)

Punishments for adultery (colour litho)
7201511 Punishments for adultery (colour litho) by German School, (16th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Punishments for adultery)

Fraternization in Grand Cairo, or The Mad General & his Bonny Party Likely to Become Tame Musselmen, October 9, 1798

Berenstat, Cuzzoni and Senesino c1725. Artist: William Hogarth
Berenstat, Cuzzoni and Senesino c1725. The Italian opera singers Gaetano Berenstadt (c1687-1735), Francesca Cuzzoni Sandoni (1700-1770) and Francesco Bernardi

Castration / C17Th
A patient is pinned down and involuntarily castrated

Heloise / Bust / Deseine
HELOISE Secretly married to Abelard; after his castration she became a nun Date: 1101 -1164

Heloise / Church / Anon
HELOISE After Abelards castration she becomes a nun and devotes herself to God Date: 1101 -1164

Heloise / Church / Wale
HELOISE After Abelards castration she becomes a nun and devotes herself to God Date: 1101 -1164

Heloise / Church / Ryley
HELOISE After Abelards castration she becomes a nun and devotes herself to God Date: 1101 -1164

Satire on a castrato singer, 1730-1740 (engraving)
XJF867860 Satire on a castrato singer, 1730-1740 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: BM 1868, 0612.1199); English, out of copyright

The Gelding of the Devil, an illustration from A Book of Roxburghe Ballads
XJF368427 The Gelding of the Devil, an illustration from A Book of Roxburghe Ballads (woodcut) (b/w photo) by English School

A eunuch before the door of the harem (oil on canvas)
BAL364945 A eunuch before the door of the harem (oil on canvas) by Vereshchagin, Vasili Vasilievich (1842-1904); Regional M

KONDRATI SELIVANOV (c1731- ?). Russian founder of the Skoptsy religious castration sect

Castrating a lamb on a Welsh farm
Two men castrating a lamb on a Welsh farm in Caernarvonshire, Wales

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"Castration: Exploring the Historical and Medical Perspectives" In the 17th century, castration held a significant place in both medicine and society. The practice of emasculating hermaphrodites was depicted in a captivating miniature from Sharaf al-din's Treat of Turkish Medicine (1466). This artwork, preserved at the Paris National Library, offers us a glimpse into the medical procedures carried out during that era. Another miniature from the same treatise showcases an operation on a hermaphrodite, shedding light on how medical interventions were conducted back then. These illustrations serve as valuable historical artifacts, enabling us to understand the advancements made in medicine during this period. The dark side is revealed through Giovanni Boccaccio's vellum manuscript titled The Fall of Princes (Ms Hunter 364 f. 276r). Torture scenes depicted within highlight the brutal punishments inflicted upon individuals who had fallen afoul of societal norms. Interestingly, even popular culture references shed light on castration. A color lithograph illustration for Three Blind Mice hints at punishment meted out for transgressions. Similarly, another lithograph portrays punishments for adultery—a stark reminder of how societies dealt with moral breaches. Moving away from Europe, William Hogarth's depiction titled "Fraternization in Grand Cairo" reveals cultural practices where castration may have been prevalent among certain groups or regions. It provides insight into diverse perspectives surrounding this topic across different parts of the world. Delving deeper into history and literature brings us to Heloise—an iconic figure known for her tragic love affair with Abelard. Various artists such as Bust Deseine, Anon Wale, and Ryley captured different aspects of Heloise's life within church settings—perhaps symbolizing her struggles against societal expectations and religious constraints. Castration remains an intriguing subject that intertwines various disciplines like medicine, art history, sociology, and literature.