Category: The Dwarfs,

A Small Sacrifice

June 29, 2026 By arne hendriks Off

Humanity’s relationship with individuals of shorter stature is deeply complex and frequently marked by systemic discrimination. The Incredible Shrinking Man investigates how these deep-seated prejudices blind us to the inherent benefits of smallness, and explores how we can dismantle them. Across Egypt, Benin, and the…

The Dwarfs: Pataikos

May 22, 2024 By arne hendriks Off

A wisdom text of ancient Egyptian literature, Instruction of Amenemope, papyrus EA 10474, gives the following instruction: ‘Laugh not at a blind man, nor tease a dwarf’. This seems to indicate that while their differences could attract negative attention, they were to be treated with…

Court Dwarfs: Nano Morgante

June 13, 2022 By arne hendriks Off

Surely one of the most remarkable sculptures created during the reign of Cosimo I de’ Medici is that of the dwarf jester Nano Morgante, whose real name was Braccio di Bartolo. Morgante, which means giant, was ironically nicknamed after the giant from the poem of the same name…