The Swiss-born Lavater is known as the main exponent of physiognomy, the art of extrapolating people’s mind and character from the form of their head and their facial features. His theory, illustrated by hundreds of examples, was published in four volumes between 1775 and 1778. Lavater and Fuseli were childhood friends, had both studied theology, were staunch believers in the Enlightenment, and politically active. Later, in his adopted city of London, Fuseli translated Lavater’s writings into English.