The Mysterious Life of Barbara Ursler – The Hairy Maid

Birth : 16 February 1629, Augsburg, Germany

Death : c. 1668 (aged 39-40)

Barbara van Beck, née Ursler (16 February 1629 – 1668?) was an entrepreneur and celebrity who lived with a condition whereby her face and much of her body were covered with hair. Barbara van Beck is believed to have had the condition hypertrichosis, also called Ambras syndrome.

In the cobblestone streets of Augsburg, amid the whispered secrets of old Europe, there came to be a tale spun of marvel and mystery, a tale woven from the threads of human curiosity and the caprice of fate. Born unto the world on the 16th of February in the year 1629, Barbara van Beck, née Ursler, emerged as a figure both ordinary and extraordinary, destined to be ensnared in the web of her own existence.

Her parents, Anne and Balthazar Ursler, perhaps unwittingly, cast Barbara into the spotlight of fascination from her earliest days. In a world where the peculiarities of humanity were celebrated as wonders to behold, the Ursler family exhibited their daughter, a child adorned with uniqueness, to the curious eyes of the public. Yet, amid the spectacle of her display, they nurtured within her a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for understanding, striving to balance the whims of entertainment with the sanctity of education.

As the years unfolded, Barbara van Beck, adorned with the surname of her beloved, Johan Michael, found herself bound in the bonds of matrimony. But their union, though marked by the tender ties of love, bore within its folds a darker truth, for Johan Michael, her husband turned manager, harbored ambitions beyond the mere confines of affection. It was whispered, in the hushed tones of gossip, that he wed Barbara not solely for love but for the allure of profit, seeking to exploit her unique appearance for the sake of monetary gain.

And thus, Barbara van Beck, with her husband as both companion and custodian, traversed the vast expanse of Europe, her presence a beacon amidst the throngs of admirers and voyeurs alike. From the grandeur of London to the provincial charm of Beauvais, she graced the stages of the world, her fame transcending borders and boundaries with each passing day.

Her name became etched as an icon of curiosity and elegance, her talents extending beyond the confines of her appearance. John Evelyn, in his meticulous writings, bore witness to her prowess upon the harpsichord, a testament to the depth of her artistry amidst the clamor of spectacle.

In the year 1660, as whispers of her renown swept across the lands, Barbara van Beck made her mark upon the stage of Beauvais, her portrait immortalized in the etchings of Richard Gaywood. Clad in the splendor of an expensive silk gown, her neckline dipped low in a fashion befitting her status, she stood as a symbol of grace and allure, a far cry from the later caricatures that would come to define the era of Victorian fascination.

After 1668, there are no mentions of van Beck, and it is speculated that she may have died in this year.

Her portrait, a testament to her beauty and dignity, served not merely as a tool of advertisement but as a reflection of the woman behind the spectacle, a woman who defied categorization and embraced her uniqueness with pride.

And so, in the twilight of her years, Barbara van Beck, née Ursler, departed this world, leaving behind a legacy as enduring as the whispers of her name. For she was more than merely a curiosity; she was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a beacon of grace amidst the tumult of a world enthralled by the extraordinary.

Extracted from Freaks - A Night at the Circus by Uwe DIEGEL. Available worldwide on Amazon https://a.co/d/09FmULO ?

?

?