Portrait of Sir Alexander Morison by Richard Dadd

Acquisition of portrait of Sir Alexander Morison (1779-1866), a pioneer of psychiatric medicine and a leading authority on mental diseases, by Richard Dadd (1819-1887), dated 1852, oil on canvas 51.10 x 61.30 cm. Dadd, a successful artist, murdered his father, was declared insane and committed for life to Bethlem Hospital, where his psychiatrist was Sir Alexander Morison. He encouraged Dad to resume painting in the hope that it would benefit his condition.