RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Annotated drawing of ear by Woolner. CUL-DAR80.B120. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2021. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).
Darwin wrote in Descent 1: 22: "The celebrated sculptor, Mr. Woolner, informs me of one little peculiarity in the external ear, which he has often observed both in men and women, and of which he perceived the full signification. His attention was first called to the subject whilst at work on his figure of Puck, to which he had given pointed ears. He was thus led to examine the ears of various monkeys, and subsequently more carefully those of man. The peculiarity consists in a little blunt point, projecting from the inwardly folded margin, or helix. Mr. Woolner made an exact model of one such case, and has sent me the accompanying drawing. (Fig.2.) These points not only project inwards, but often a little outwards, so that they are visible when the head is viewed from directly in front or behind. They are variable in size and somewhat in position, standing either a little higher or lower; and they sometimes occur on one ear and not on the other. Now the meaning of these projections is not, I think, doubtful; but it may be thought that they offer too trifling a character to be worth notice. This thought, however, is as false as it is natural. […]"
"Woolner, Thomas, 1825-92. Sculptor. Founder-member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. […] W had discovered this small cartilaginous lobe in the human pinna, which is more usually called "Darwin's peak". It is referred to in Descent, 1:22, with woodcut." Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021, p. 459.
[B120]
[Drawing of an ear] a [projecting point] insert line of reference
(When this is drawn please look for shading of a living ear)
T. Woolner
[Fig. 2. Human ear, modelled and drawn by Mr. Woolner.]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022