Image Gallery

A botanical illustration of a plant with three thistle-like flower heads, serrated green leaves, and a stylized, symmetrical root system. A light blue circular wash is visible behind the upper portion.

Voynich Manuscript - High Resolution Scans

A botanical illustration of a plant featuring a large, textured taproot with horizontal hairs, several palmately lobed green leaves on reddish-brown stems, and a tall central spike bearing reddish-brown speckled inflorescences.

Voynich Manuscript - High Resolution Scans

Large botanical illustration of an unidentified plant. The top right features a large, complex flower head with concentric circles of blue and green petals and a central disk. The flower sits on a textured, funnel-shaped red receptacle with green vertical markings. The stem is thin and pale, leading to large, serrated green leaves and several brown, bulbous, radish-like roots. A smaller, similar plant structure with leaves and roots is shown on the bottom left.

Voynich Manuscript - High Resolution Scans

A Blemmyes: a headless human figure with facial features located on its torso, framed within a colored rectangle.

Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 614

A medieval manuscript illumination depicting the philosophers Plato and Socrates. Plato is shown standing on the left in a red robe and blue cap, gesturing towards Socrates. Socrates is seated at a high-backed chair, wearing a tall conical hat, and is actively writing on a tilted desk using a quill and a penknife. Their names are inscribed in gothic script above their heads.

Bodleian Library MS. Digby 46

A complex alchemical emblem depicting the Rebis—a two-faced, androgynous crowned figure—standing upon a dragon within a landscape. The figure is flanked by the 'Arbor Solis' (Sun Tree) on the left and 'Arbor Lunae' (Moon Tree) on the right. The diagram is heavily annotated with Latin and German labels referring to alchemical processes and elements like Ignis (Fire), Aqua (Water), Terra (Earth), and Aer (Air).

Alchemica (German MS 1)

An intricate manuscript volvelle, a rotating paper instrument used for astronomical and calendrical calculations. It features concentric circles with numerals, Latin month names, and zodiac signs, surrounded by Middle English cardinal direction labels (South, West, North, and combinations using the thorn character 'þ'). The center contains a checkered moon phase indicator.

Bodleian Library MS. Ashmole 370

A complex alchemical illustration from the Ripley Scroll. At the top, a large bearded figure (Hermes Trismegistus) holds a glass vessel over a central scene. Within the vessel's influence, a toad (representing the base matter or nigredo) sits atop a stalk, surrounded by feathers and red droplets. Below the toad are two circular emblems depicting figures and alchemical principles (Anima and Corpus/Sol and Luna) joined by a central axis.

Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. Rolls 1

A complex Lullian diagram titled 'PRIMA FIGVRA'. It consists of a central 'A' (signifying God or the primary unity) surrounded by concentric circles containing the nine 'dignities' or divine attributes in both noun and adjective forms, mapped to letters B through K. A geometrically perfect nine-pointed star connects every point to every other point, illustrating the interrelation of these principles.

Llull: Ars Magna Generalis (1517)

A complex technical diagram by Albrecht Dürer showing the geometrical projection and proportional analysis of a human head from profile, frontal, and plan views using a grid system (nidergedruckten grund).

Dürer: Human Proportion (1528 First Edition)

Two full-length woodcut studies of a female nude, one in a three-quarter frontal view and one in profile, illustrating anatomical proportions and contours with minimal internal shading.

Dürer: Human Proportion (1528 First Edition)

Two anatomical studies of a female figure (profile and frontal views) with horizontal proportion lines, demonstrating Renaissance theories of human measurement.

Dürer: Human Proportion (1528 First Edition)

Anatomical study showing a frontal view of a female figure with internal measurement lines and fractional values.

On the Symmetry of Human Bodies

Anatomical proportion studies of a female figure from Albrecht Dürer's 'Vier Bücher von Menschlicher Proportion', showing front and side views with detailed measurement scales.

On the Symmetry of Human Bodies

Detailed anatomical woodcut illustration depicting two male figures—one in a three-quarter front view and the other in a profile/three-quarter back view—used for the study of human proportions. A series of horizontal parallel lines intersect both figures to demonstrate that the total height of this 'rustic' man is equal to seven head-lengths. Precise circular markers indicate key anatomical landmarks used for measurement.

On the Symmetry of Human Bodies

The 'Arma Artis' (Arms of the Art) alchemical emblem from the Splendor Solis manuscript. The central image depicts a heraldic shield bearing a sun with a human face, topped by a helmet, a crescent moon crown, and a radiant sun above. In the background, two men in period clothing are seen through an archway. The entire scene is enclosed within a lavishly decorated border containing detailed botanical illustrations and various animals, including an owl, a heron, and monkeys—one of which is playing a lute.

Splendor Solis: The Splendour of the Sun

A complex alchemical emblem from the Splendor Solis. The central image shows a Queen on the left standing on a moon-faced globe and a King on the right standing within a basin of fire. They are framed by an architectural arch under two celestial suns. The Queen holds a scroll reading 'Lac Virginum' (Virgin's Milk), while the King holds one reading 'Masculum Coagula' (Coagulate the Male). The entire scene is surrounded by an ornate border of flowers and birds. At the base, a predella features three vignettes of historical figures, including Alexander the Great.

Splendor Solis: The Splendour of the Sun

A reproduction of Plate 16 from the 1582 manuscript 'Splendor Solis'. The central emblem depicts a peacock inside a glass flask (cucurbit) crowned with gold, situated between two ornate architectural columns. Above the flask, a celestial chariot pulled by two birds carries the goddess Venus and Cupid. The scene is framed by elaborate genre paintings: on the left, a rural scene with a farmhouse and travelers; on the right, dancers and a rider; and at the bottom, a festive banquet with musicians playing the lute and viola da gamba. The date '1582' is inscribed in the lower corners of the inner frame.

Splendor Solis: The Splendour of the Sun

A complex alchemical emblem representing the stages of the Great Work. It features a large central sphere supported by two figures, containing symbolic imagery such as a crow (Nigredo), a white bird (Albedo), a phoenix (Rubedo), the sun and moon, and lions. Above the sphere, several celestial globes and figures of a king and queen represent alchemical principles. The entire structure is adorned with Latin banners and rests on a pedestal featuring a multi-headed dragon.

Alchymia: Comprehensive Treatise on Alchemy

An elaborate engraving of Tycho Brahe seated at a desk, gesturing toward a large mural quadrant (a brass arc mounted on a wall) used for determining the positions of stars. The background depicts the interior of his observatory, Uraniborg, with multiple levels showing assistants at work with various scientific instruments, clocks, and chemical apparatus. The foreground shows assistants recording observations and a dog sleeping at Tycho's feet.

Instruments of the Restored Astronomy

Architectural elevation and section of Uraniborg, Tycho Brahe's observatory

Instruments of the Restored Astronomy

A copperplate engraving depicting the surface of the moon as seen through a telescope, highlighting the terminator line where light meets shadow and revealing a rugged, mountainous landscape with craters.

Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger) - 1610 First Edition

One of Galileo Galilei's groundbreaking engravings of the Moon as seen through a telescope, depicting the lunar surface with its terminator line, craters (maculae), and mountains.

Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger) - 1610 First Edition

Second telescopic view of the Moon, focused on a different phase or region, prominently featuring a large circular crater near the center and the uneven texture of the lunar landscape.

Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger) - 1610 First Edition