Welcome to the Victorian Underground Project

Today we return to the fascinating artwork of Peter Trout. We have asked one of our Victorian art specialists to discuss these images further. This is what she had to say:

“We know that Mr Trout was a prominent illustrator of medical books. He also had an impressive background in classical art which he studied in Lancaster.

The tragic circumstances surrounding his mental and emotional decline seemed to trigger what we would now call psychosis and a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder.

From his medical record, we also know that he was in a catatonic state, unable to function independently for around 20 hours a day. He would just mumble, dribble, and roll around the bed like a geriatric.

Yet at least once a day, he would become possessed with a blast of creative energy and set upon his work, painting several canvases in only a couple of hours.

The doctors only allowed him a canvas so they could observe him and try to extract answers to outdated medical questions. Mr Trout would hiss at them to fuck off and would become even more frantic before collapsing on the floor in a blubbering heap.

But what of the art? We see themes of skeletons and disembowelment, severed limbs and evisceration. There are putrid nurses and deformed insects; all of which have retained an almost clinical style which makes them more unsettling.

The symbolism may seem obvious, but it’s interesting none the less. While it’s difficult to know with certainty, Mr Trout appears to be living through the trauma over and over in every brushstroke, in every smudge.

Without modern mental health support, Mr Trout continued to deteriorate until he committed suicide. Today there are numerous medicines and talk therapies which can help people to process traumatic events.

Unfortunately people like Mr Trout were treated as if they had a moral deficiency and often succumbed to even worse emotional agony before finally getting some peace and quiet. “

Here at TVUP, we are advocates for removing the stigma around mental illness and supporting those who are afflicted. If you live in the United Kingdom and need support then you can contact the Samaritans on 116 113 any time of the day or night.

Many thanks for reading.

TVUP