The Foolish Genius Of The Psychiatric Clinic: James Henry Pullen - Alternative View

The Foolish Genius Of The Psychiatric Clinic: James Henry Pullen - Alternative View
The Foolish Genius Of The Psychiatric Clinic: James Henry Pullen - Alternative View

Video: The Foolish Genius Of The Psychiatric Clinic: James Henry Pullen - Alternative View

Video: The Foolish Genius Of The Psychiatric Clinic: James Henry Pullen - Alternative View
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Poor James. Dangerous idiot. He spent his life as an experimental guinea pig in a hospital. It piqued the interest of Prince Edward and Queen Victoria. At times he became violent (ruining his workshop). 70 years in captivity. It was difficult for the staff to control him, and in one memorable incident, James built a working guillotine and placed it on the door to behead a doctor he did not like. Only an accident prevented someone from getting hurt.

He was suspicious of strangers and built a huge mannequin in which he could sit, directing his movements.

With a reproduction of a wooden figure, my acquaintance with this, pardon the stamp, an incredible artist began.

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When I first saw his work, I was amazed by the beauty and some kind of fantasticness inherent in the idea of each composition. These ships and cabinets, boxes and decorations, drawings are real and invented, everything is done carefully, accurately, everything is stylized and breathes grace, wit and strength.

Having learned the size of some things, I was even more surprised.

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How would you feel if you walked into a room, and you were met by such a giant - an almost 15-meter mechanical mannequin with a lantern and a huge sword? It was a familiar sight to the doctors, staff and patients of the hospital, created by the "dumb genius of the Earlswood Orphanage."

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James Henry Pullen was born in an unfortunate era for the Savants in 1835. At the age of 12, he ended up in an orphanage. He spoke only one word: Mom, and even then he pronounced it badly. But he had fits of wild anger.

It would seem hopeless, right? But at the same time, his talents were suddenly revealed.

Pullen spent day and night designing wardrobes, figurines and other wood products, and then cutting them up in any way possible. Some of his masterpieces are on permanent display in museums throughout England to this day.

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The Pullen Giant is a mechanical puppet with room for a person to stand inside. He spent decades working on the design and made the giant blink, wiggle his ears, head and arms. He was even able to get the giant to speak with a hidden horn.

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Many of these drawings have been exhibited throughout the orphanage, and one of them was sent as a gift to Queen Victoria (who sent James a gift in return) - ivory and precious wood as materials.

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On one of his visits, Prince Albert was shown Pullen's drawings and there was a detailed drawing of the Siege of Sevastopol, which James made based on newspaper reports about the Crimean War.

And James Pullen became famous.

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A magnificent model of the ship of Princess Alexandra in honor of the royal wedding of 1863, launched in a pond in the orphanage gardens in front of invited patrons and local residents, and there was then a hospital brass band. The ship was then exhibited in the Paris Exhibition Hall in 1867.

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He built intricate models of some of the ships that he saw on one of his rare excursions to the nearest naval base.

Given the demand for James's work, he was allowed the freedom necessary to create his art, and he went out with friends to local taverns (and often returned drunk).

The nautical theme was in favor, and the staff once presented Pullen with an admiral's uniform to calm him down when he became infatuated with a local woman and decided he wanted to get married.

Pullen in the form of an admiral
Pullen in the form of an admiral

Pullen in the form of an admiral.

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When James Pullen died in 1915, his brain was stored in formalin solution to study the phenomenon. The nature of his disability has not yet been established.

He was the strangest genius of the 19th century.

Can you draw a line between the "sane genius" accepted by society and the "outsider" who doesn't follow any rules?

Savantism is a rare but fascinating phenomenon: people with certain developmental disabilities can display amazing talents in stark contrast to their overall limited functioning.