Les démoniaques dans l'art: Charcot and the “hysterical saints”

Abstract

Professor Jean-Martin Charcot was the founder of clinical neurology and one of the prominent researchers in the field of hysteria in the 19th century. His book Les démoniaques dans l'art is a representation of hysterical symptoms in religion and religious art. This paper aims to discuss Charcot's descriptions of hysteria in religion and his “hysterical saints”.

Giuseppe Levi, Natalia Ginzburg, and Lessico Famigliare (Family Lexicon): a seminal figure in the history of neuron cell biology and histology seen through his daughter's literary eyes

“…Further studies on neurons and hibernation, 9 hippocampi, 10 11 and sensory ganglia followed; he theorized on the correlation of neuronal size and an animal's size. 12 Following appointments to the universities of Sassari and Palermo, Levi earned a professorship in Turin in 1919, 1 soon gathering a remarkable group of students, including future Nobel laureates Salvador Luria (1912–1991), Renato Dulbecco (1914–2012), and Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909–2012); 1 13 despite the surnames, Levi and the latter had no familial connections. His career suffered greatly under fascism and the Second World War; he and his family first saught shelter in Liège before returning to Italy.…”

Jean-Martin Charcot: the polymath

“…It also explored Charcot's contributions to the field of functional disorders and their implications. 103,116 Another joint publication by Charcot and Paul Richer in 1889 was "Les Difformes et le Malades dans l'Art" ("The deformed and diseases in art"), further discussing the intersection of science and art. 117 Moreover, Charcot actively encouraged his disciples, such as Bourneville and Paul-Marie-Léon Regnard (1850-1927), to share the neurological findings of their group at La Salpêtrière through various journals.…”

“…103 This work, illustrated by Richier, depicted hysterical symptoms in religious and religious art, including Charcot's descriptions of hysteria in religious contexts and his “hysterical saints.” It also explored Charcot's contributions to the field of functional disorders and their implications. 103 116 Another joint publication by Charcot and Paul Richer in 1889 was “ Les Difformes et le Malades dans l'Art ” (“The deformed and diseases in art”), further discussing the intersection of science and art. 117…”