This was a National Library of Medicine traveling exhibit on display in February and March 2016. The exhibit explored the language of the four humors that bred the core passions of anger, grief, hope and fear — the emotions conveyed so powerfully in William Shakespeare’s (1564–1616) comedies and tragedies.
Shakespeare understood human personality in the terms available to his age — that of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. The theory was passed on from ancient philosophers Aristotle, Hippocrates and Galen and was organized around the four elements of earth, water, air and fire.
The humors were thought to define peoples’ physical and mental health and determine their personalities. Illness was defined as an imbalance of one or more of the humors, so the treatment for disease attempted to restore balance.
You can view the online version of this exhibit on the National Library of Medicine's website.
Before the Gutenberg press was developed around 1440, written works were handwritten or produced with a block press, known as “block books.” For this reason, books were extremely rare, and their preciousness discouraged casual handling or lending. With the Gutenberg press, books proliferated, and so did the plates.
This exhibit showcased some of the bookplates found in HSLIC’s collections.