alb3817608

Barbara van Beck, German Sideshow Performer

Barbara van Beck (February 18, 1629 - ?) was a German woman who suffered from a rare genetic disorder, hypertrichosis universalis, also known as Ambras or werewolf syndrome. Her parents had no sign of this hereditary condition so her birth must have been a considerable surprise to them. She first came to prominence in 1639 when the anatomist Thomas Bartholin saw her exhibited in Copenhagen. He noted that her "entire body was covered with soft, blond hair and a luxuriant beard". She was married to Michael van Beck in 1655 and it is said that he married her in order to be able to control and to take advantage of her as a sideshow. In 1657 she gave birth to a child who was not afflicted with the same condition. By all accounts she was an intelligent young woman who charmed everyone who conversed with her, even though some treated her as more an animal than human. Etching by Robert Gaywood, 1656.

Share
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook
Copy link
Email

Add to another lightbox

Do you already have an account? Sign in

You do not have an account? Register

Buy this image

Title:

Barbara van Beck, German Sideshow Performer

Caption:

Barbara van Beck (February 18, 1629 - ?) was a German woman who suffered from a rare genetic disorder, hypertrichosis universalis, also known as Ambras or werewolf syndrome. Her parents had no sign of this hereditary condition so her birth must have been a considerable surprise to them. She first came to prominence in 1639 when the anatomist Thomas Bartholin saw her exhibited in Copenhagen. He noted that her "entire body was covered with soft, blond hair and a luxuriant beard". She was married to Michael van Beck in 1655 and it is said that he married her in order to be able to control and to take advantage of her as a sideshow. In 1657 she gave birth to a child who was not afflicted with the same condition. By all accounts she was an intelligent young woman who charmed everyone who conversed with her, even though some treated her as more an animal than human. Etching by Robert Gaywood, 1656.

Credit:

Album / Science Source / Wellcome Images

Releases:

Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?

Image size:

3256 x 4200 px | 39.1 MB

Print size:

27.6 x 35.6 cm | 10.9 x 14.0 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

1650S • 1656 • 17TH CENTURY • ABNORMALITY • AMBRAS SYNDROME • ANOMALY • ART • ARTWORK • ATTRACTION • BARBARA URSELIN • BARBARA URSLER • BARBARA URSLERIN • BARBARA VAN BECK • BARBARA VANBECK • BIZARRE • BW • CELEBRITY • CONDITION • CONGENITAL • CREEPY • CURIOSITY SIDESHOW • DRAWING • EERIE • ETCHING • EUROPEA • EUROPEAN • EXCESSIVE HAIRINESS • FAMOUS • FEMALE • FIGURE • FREAK • GENETIC • GERMAN • GERMANS • HAIRY • HIRSUTISM • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • HYPERTRICHOSIS LANUGINOSA • HYPERTRICHOSIS • ILLUSTRATION • IMPORTANT • MEDICAL • MEDICINAL • MEDICINE • NOTABLE • ODD • PECULIAR • PEOPLE • PERFORMER • PERSON • PERSONALITIES • PERSONALITY • QUIRKY • SCARY • SCIENCE • SIDESHOW • STRANGE • UNUSUAL • URSELIN • URSULA DYAN • VAN BECK • VANBECK • WACKY • WEIRD • WELL-KNOWN • WEREWOLF SYNDROME • WOMAN • WOMEN