Voltaire (1694-1778), French author and poet. 19th-century illustration of genius as shown in the facial features of Voltaire, as described in the theories of Swiss theologist Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801). Voltaire, born Francois Marie Arouet, wrote more than 20, 000 letters and more than 2000 books and pamphlets. Voltaire wrote on science, history, philosophy, religion and politics. He was a fierce critic of social and political injustices, and this led to several periods of exile or imprisonment. Lavater is best known for popularising the pseudoscience of physiognomy, the practice of assessing personality traits from the appearance of a person's face. He published his work in 'Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beforderung der Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe' (1775-1778). This artwork was published in 1844. |