‘The Ordinall of Alchimy’
Date
1652
Creator
Robert Vaughan (1590, British) , Engraver
Object type
Library reference
16605
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (page): 187mm
width (page): 133mm
height (print): 142mm
width (print): 101mm
width (page): 133mm
height (print): 142mm
width (print): 101mm
Subject
Description
Four men look down from a balcony on four alchemists, or alchemists’ assistants, who are grinding and heating metals. Speech scrolls identify the observers as ‘Geberus’, ‘Arnoldus’ ‘Rafis’ and ‘Hermes’; the latter’s crown possibly identifying him as Hermes, God of trade and merchants. A thick border of flowers, insects, a dog and a rat line the print.
Border inscription: ‘Ro: Vaughan Sculp:’
Figure 2 from Elias Ashmole’s Theatrum chemicum Britannicum: containing severall poeticall pieces of our famous English philospohers…, a compilation of alchemical literature selected and annotated by the author. This figure illustrates Thomas Norton’s poem ‘The Ordinall of Alchimy’, a poetic guide to the precise processes of alchemy, first published in 1477.
Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) British astrologer and antiquary was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1661.
Border inscription: ‘Ro: Vaughan Sculp:’
Figure 2 from Elias Ashmole’s Theatrum chemicum Britannicum: containing severall poeticall pieces of our famous English philospohers…, a compilation of alchemical literature selected and annotated by the author. This figure illustrates Thomas Norton’s poem ‘The Ordinall of Alchimy’, a poetic guide to the precise processes of alchemy, first published in 1477.
Elias Ashmole (1617-1692) British astrologer and antiquary was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1661.
Related fellows
Elias Ashmole (1617 - 1692, British) , Astrologer
Associated place