William Thurber

**William Thurber** is a character in Netflix's *Cabinet of Curiosities*, appearing in "Pickman's Model." He is portrayed by Ben Barnes.

## Profile

William Thurber is a talented artist whose work wins prizes in competitions. His life takes a turn for the strange when he meets Richard Upton Pickman, an unusual artist whose paintings are very dark in nature. He later settles down, marrying a woman named Rebecca. He has a son named James and manages an art gallery.

## History

One day, when William Thurber attends his regular sketch class at Miskatonic University, there is a new student, Richard Upton Pickman. The instructor for the class asks the students to sketch a nude model, but Thurber, who finishes early, finds himself oddly captivated by Pickman's drawing, which appears to depict rotting flesh. He later finds himself discussing Pickman with a group of fellow students. He learns that Pickman's parents are both dead, one of them having gone insane, and Pickman lives alone in a mansion left to him. He decides to go visit Pickman in the graveyard where he's told he can be found.

Upon visiting Pickman, he learns from him that he is drawn to the dark and the macabre. Pickman tells him that one cannot allow sympathy or altruism to blind them to the elusive truths of the world, which can only be found "where fear lives." He invites Thurber back to his house to see more of his work. Thurber accepts the invitation, but finds himself deeply disturbed by one of the paintings, which depicts an ancestor of Pickman's being eaten for having been a witch. That night, he wanders home in a nightmare state. The next day, during a high society event with his fiance, Rebecca, he embarrasses himself by seeming drunk, still seeing the specters of the night before. He cuts off all contact with Pickman, marrying Rebecca and having a son named James.

17 years later, Pickman is a manager at a museum gallery. One day, upon coming home, he notices the delivery of a long but thin parcel. He does not think much of it at first, but that night is haunted by nightmares like the ones he had before. He goes downstairs and unwraps the parcel, which turns out to be a new painting by Pickman. He moves to take a knife to it, but instead nearly takes it to his own head, before being interrupted by his wife. Later that day, he orders an assistant to return the painting to its sender, along with the check that came with it. Following this, one of his co-workers, Joe, introduces an artist whom he wants the gallery to consider for the year's exhibition. It turns out to be Pickman.

Thurber is aghast and urges Joe not to consider Pickman's work, but is accused of being a poor sport. That evening he discovers that there is a guest at his home, who turns out to be Pickman. He watches in horror as Pickman sketches a drawing before his son. As he escorts Pickman out, Pickman encourages him to come to his house and see his newest work, giving him a card. That night, both Thurber and his son James have nightmares. Thurber visits the graveyard, warning Pickman away from his family. In return, Pickman promises to never bother his family again should he come and see his paintings. Thurber, willing to do anything to protect his family, agrees.

Upon arrival at the mansion, Pickman leads Thurber to a secret basement area. Within it are Pickman's newest, most terrible and disturbing paintings. Upon seeing them, Thurger is once again affected, hearing voices and having visions. He tosses gasoline upon the paintings and lights the place ablaze, telling Pickman someone has to stop him, that the paintings crawl behind his eyes and drive him mad. When Pickman insists that it's only art, Thurber tells him to stop talking. When he doesn't, he takes a gun and shoots him in the chest. As he bleeds out and is dragged down a well by a strange creature, he warns Thurber that it's "time to see what awaits us all in the darkness."

Convinced that the terror is finally over, Thurber returns home and takes his wife and son to the exhibition at the gallery. Upon arrival there, however, he is shocked to see paintings by Pickman on display, paintings which he thought that he had burned. He shouts for his wife and child to flee and orders all of the paintings removed from the gallery. When he returns home, he finds his wife at a cutting board, preparing dinner. However, when she turns to face him, her face is covered in blood. Smoke comes from the oven and inside apparently is his son's head, bubbling in a flame. Pickman intones once again that it's time to see what awaits us all in the darkness.