Louis Wain Fact #19:
Louis Wain’s likeness had once appeared in the Illustrated London News in an advert for Phospherine, a ‘nerve tonic’ that had been advertised to treat depression, influenza, hysteria, exhaustion, and basically every other ailment. In the ad Wain states it “is a good pick-me-up, improves one’s appetite and possesses very striking invigorating properties.. I am now able to comfortably work more hours without the slightest detrimental effect.’
Comments
- Reply
On loan from the Bethlem Royal Hospital, catalogued by Patricia Allderidge.
108. GINGER CAT
Coloured pencil on paper
Inscribed on verso: F. Deuxbery, Mr. Louis Wain. Sept 1931
Date: September 1931
10" x 7"
The Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital Health Authority (Guttman-Maclay Collection)
This picture was drawn at Napsbury Hospital where the previous owner, Mr Deuxbery, was one of the nurses who looked after Wain. The background is presumably an example of the 'wallpaper patterns', so-called by the staff of Napsbury: in the early 30s Wain is said to have stopped drawing cats at all for a while, and drawn only these patterns, though he soon returned to cats.