concept

A bearded old man; representing old age. Stipple engraving, 19th century.

Five tombs containing skeletons of historical exemplars of wisdom, war, beauty, strength and riches; an allegory of change, decay and death. Engraving after A.P. van de Venne, ca. 1655.

Fever, represented as a frenzied beast, stands racked in the centre of a room, while a blue monster, representing ague, ensnares his victim by the fireside; a doctor writes prescriptions to the right. Coloured etching by T. Rowlandson after J. Dunthorne, 1788.

A prince, clad in gold, succeeds the King; representing a stage in the alchemical process. Watercolour painting by E.A. Ibbs.

Kings examine the skeleton of King Croesus; allegory of vanity in the face of death. Etching by A. Allard.

A woman with a crutch, a man in chains and a man falling on a sword; allegory of suffering and the different forms of death. Engraving by P. Galle, c. 1563?.

A woman personifying anatomy looks searchingly into the light emanating from a corpse, but she is mortally threatened by the scythe of Time; representing anatomy's struggle with decay. Engraving by N-G. Dupuis, 1759, after J-B-M. Pierre.

Saxonia, Hercules (1551-1607) (& others)

Of mutability / by Jo Shapcott.

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Saxonia, Hercules (1551-1607) (& others)

Of mutability / by Jo Shapcott.

A bearded old man; representing old age. Stipple engraving, 19th century.

Five tombs containing skeletons of historical exemplars of wisdom, war, beauty, strength and riches; an allegory of change, decay and death. Engraving after A.P. van de Venne, ca. 1655.

Compendium