Historical Scientific Illustrations

Engravings depicting historical scientific processes, including astronomy, metallurgy, alchemy, and mechanics, reflecting the essence of early scientific exploration.

Fig. CXIII. Haustrum simplex, per funes. Additional, Antlia simplex, per sphæras sum insertas., 1662., Coloniæ Agrippinæ. Publisher, Sumptibus Pauli Principis, Technempolæi Noribergici. Mechanical engineering, Machinery, Mills and mill-work, Water pumps, Gearing, Troughs, Engravings

The astronomer Tycho de Brahe, 1546 - 1601, a Danish astronomer in Uraniborg Observatory on the then Danish Øresund island of Ven off Landskrona

Blast furnaces. From 1683 English edition of Lazarus Ercker 'Beschreibung allerfurnemisten mineralischen Ertszt' of 1580. Copperplate engraving. New plates with numbers rather than letters, but process faithfully copied.

Alchemist in laboratory attempting to make philosopher´s stone, which turns base metals into silver and gold, Phase I from Stephan Michel Spacherus Cabala, 1677. Museum: Biblioteca Bertoliana, VICENZA, ITALIA.

Fig. CXIII. Haustrum simplex, per funes. Additional, Antlia simplex, per sphæras sum insertas., 1662., Coloniæ Agrippinæ. Publisher, Sumptibus Pauli Principis, Technempolæi Noribergici. Mechanical engineering, Machinery, Mills and mill-work, Water pumps, Gearing, Troughs, Engravings

A woodcut engraving depicting an assay laboratory. In this picture gold and silver are being assayed. Dated 16th century

Figures in a laboratory, Jan Luyken, 1683 print Amsterdam paper etching laboratory

Historic drawing, a Dutch book printing office in the 17th century

'The Kitchen Metamorphosed', 1762. Artist: Unknown

Making of coins. Facsimile of an engraving by Jost Amman in 1659. Sciences & Lettres au Moyen Age et à l'époque de la Renaissance. Paris, 1877.

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; Grain milling machine driven by Oxen

CLAUDIUS PTOLEMAIUS Alexandrian astronomer, mathematician and geographer Date: 2nd century

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; A hand operated irrigation pump

MARTIN CORTES DE BUJARALOZ (1510-1582) - SPANISH COSMOGRAPH. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN.

Astrologers preparing a horoscope. From Robert Fludd 'Utriusque Cosmi..historia'. Oppenheim, 1617-1619

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794) French chemist, discovered oxygen. Lavoisier investigating respiration. He discovered the interchange of gases in the lungs, and proved that carbon dioxide and water are the normal products of breathing. Based on a picture by Madame Lavoisier (shown right) taking notes. Engraving

Alchemist laboratory, vintage engraved illustration. From the Universe and Humanity, 1910.

Encyclopedie. Edited by Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond d'Alembert. Published, 1770. Plate 377. Printing.

Frontispiece to De Fabrica Corporis Humani showing dissection on human body in auditorium by Belgian anatomist Andreas Vesalius

Pharmacy under Louis XIV ". Estampe. Paris, Carnavalet museum. 60015-2 Print, interior, pharmacy, pharmacy, pharmacist

Two images of operations due to grease and with the help of a bellows, Jan Luyken, 1693 print Print at the top right marked: fol. 9. Amsterdam paper etching smashing, crushing (industrial processes). bellows

17th century geographer at work in his study

Muscles of the lower leg and foot. Engraving, 1686, after Gérard de Lairesse, 1685.

The study of Astronomy from Caxton's 'Myrrour of the Worlde', printed in 1481 Date: 1481

Natural History Collection; Wondertooneel der Nature. Vincent Levinius (1658-1727). Engraving, 1715. 235 x 182mm.

J. S. Elsholtz, Clysmatica nova.

alchemy laboratory extraction of sulphuric acid by spreading with gravel through destillation woodcut after Georg Agricola (1494 - 1555),

Title page of John Wilkins 'A Discourse Concerning a New World & Another Planet' London 1683 (Ist edition 1640) Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler represented in bottom corners.

Bombards on portable gun carriages. In the front right corner is a clinometer for measuring the elevation of the guns. Engraving from 'Kriegsbuch' by Leonhardt Fronsperger (Frankfort, 1575).

Extraction of alum from water, historical account from Georgius Agricola, De re metallica libri XII, Berg- und Huettenwesen, Metallurgy, published 1556

Plate of the neck, trachea and muscles of a male. From Giulio Cesare Casseri's "De Vocis Auditusque Organis Historia Anatomia". Giulio Cesare Casseri (1552-1616) an Italian anatomist. Dated 17th century

Johannes Hevelius Using a Sextant, engraving

Abbé Jean-Antoine Nollet demonstrating chemical experiments to a party of ladies and gentlemen. Engraving, ca. 1750.

Astronomer and philosopher-theologian engaged in discussion. Woodcut of 1490.

Field book of surgery, 1517, by Hans von Gersdorff (1455-1529). Illustration: Representation of Demon of the plague.

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; A hand operated milling machine

Embalming a corpse, vintage engraved illustration. From the Universe and Humanity, 1910.

A man and a woman demonstrating the process of fermentation and distillation in alchemy. Etching, ca. 17th century.

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; Oxen powered chain or rope washer pump or paternoster

The Chemist, 1508, The Chemist or Alchemist is using bellows to heat up the fire under under a crucible. Behind him an alembic standing on a furnace is being used for distillation. Distillate condenses in rounded hood of alembic and runs down through beak into collecting vessel. From Margarita philo

Illustration from Theatrum Machinarum Novum 1661 by Georg Andreas Böckler; A chain or rope washer pump or paternoster

Bellows, historical account from Georgius Agricola, De re metallica libri XII, Mining and metallurgy, metallurgy, published 1556

Three devices for ventilating mines with bellows. In the centre the horse turns the wheel and cams, I,I, work the bellows. At the top, a horse turns a crown wheel which engages with a lantern on the camshaft and the cams engage with tappets to work the bellows. At the bottom, a man works the bellows

J.J. Scheuchzer, Physica sacra, tab. XXIII

Iceland's most active volcano. During the Middle Ages, it was known as the 'Gateway to Hell' Date: 1553

Crystallization of Saltpetre (Nitre, Potassium Nitrate, or KN03. Saltpetre is the principal ingredient in gunpowder, and is still used in the preservation of some foods. In medicine it was used internally as a diuretic, but now is only used externally for a number of conditions, such as asthma. From 1683 English edition of 'Beschreibung allerfurnemisten mineralischen Ertzt', Lazarus Ercker, (Prague, 1574). Copperplate engraving.

Von Guericke's (1602-1686) water barometer. Fig. I, details of parts: Fig II, complete barometer; water reached 3rd floor, but not 4th. Fig. IV, details of indicator. Fig II is apparatus for investigation of weight of air. From 'Experimenta Nova u

Tailor's Shop, (1885). Artist: Unknown

Plate 11, Tratado instructivo, y práctico, sobre el arte de la tintura: reglas experimentadas y metódicas para tintar sedas, lanas, hilos de todas clases, y esparto en rama, Fernández, Luis, Engraving, 1778

Distillation of Nitric Acid. Also known as Aqua Fortis or Parting Acid, nitric acid was widely used in the refining and assaying of metals. From 1683 English edition of 'Beschreibung allerfurnemisten mineralischen Ertzt', Lazarus Ercker, (Prague, 1574). Copperplate engraving.

superstition alchemy ""the maker of gold and black magician"" engraving by Philip Gallee after Johannes Stradanus Netherlands circa 1575 private collection historic historical Europe esotericism occultism alchemist studio devices distillery oven ovens,

Genealogy tree of Adam, 1675. Artist: Athanasius Kircher

Aurora and Apeliotes. Engraving by J. Sadeler after M. de Vos.

Full vapour bath, left, and method of applying hot vapour baths to various parts of the body. Aachen (Aix), the famous spa town, known to the Romans as Aquisgranum. From ''Amusements des eaux d'Aix-la-Chapelle'', Amsterdam, 1736.

Two men study a Globe, Jan Luyken, 1694 print print maker: Amsterdamprint maker: Amsterdampublisher: Rotterdam paper etching globe

Animal Powered Milling Machine 17th Century Engraving

alchemy laboratories engraving by Jerome Cook after Pieter Brueghel the Elder 16th century,

A witch casting spells over a steaming cauldron. Engraving by H.S. Thomassin after Demaretz.

Frontispiece of fifth book 'Of Changing Metals' from 1715 edition of 'Magia Naturalis' by Giovanni Battista della Porta.

Astronomy: various apocalyptic scenes, including a tombstone, an earthquake, and riotous assembly. Coloured lithograph, c.1826?.

The French Academy of Sciences (French: Académie des sciences) is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research. It was at the forefront of scientific developments in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, and is one of the earliest Academies of Sciences.

Engraving depicting the constellation of Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivalled beauty. Dated 18th century

Early astronomers, left to right, Galileo, Hevelius, Aristotle, Brahe, Copernicus and Ptolemy. Engraving, 1692.

Anatomical illustration showing the internal organs and blood vessels within the human torso. Copperplate engraving by Robert Benard from Denis Diderot's Encyclopedia, Pellet, Geneva, 1779.

Chemistry: stages in the production of ether, showing varous retorts in use on furnaces. Engraving, 17--.

Thunderbolt or lightning, 1508. Man sheltering under a tree struck by lightning or a thunderbolt. From 'Margarita philosophica' ('The Pearl of Philosophy') by Gregor Reisch. (Basle, 1508). This book was an early encyclopaedia of knowledge for students.

A distillery in the sixteenth century, vintage engraved illustration. From the Universe and Humanity, 1910.

A German astronomer and cosmographer, at work on a globe with his compasses Date: 16th century

An engraving depicting the process of propagating trees and shrubs using a Mummy to speed root growth: Dipping the prepared branch of an apple tree (original state at A) into a hot Mummy (E) then into cold water (D). G and H show how the roots produced after the branch has been in the ground for 'some time'. Dated 18th century

Plate 2, Tratado instructivo, y práctico, sobre el arte de la tintura: reglas experimentadas y metódicas para tintar sedas, lanas, hilos de todas clases, y esparto en rama, Fernández, Luis, Engraving, 1778

An alchemist at a furnace with a large 'receiver', with diagrams of alchemical apparatus. Woodcut, 1658.

Wood engraving depicting an astronomer observing the Moon and stars using a quadrant. Dated 16th century

Experiment with static electricity by Jean-Antoine Nollet (1700-1770) French physicist and cleric. An iron bar is suspended by silk cords about 6mm above the charged globe of an electrostatic machine. The man places his finger the same distance from the bar and draws off a discharge visible in daytl

17th-century illustration showing Fungi (Agarike); from Theatrum Botanicum 1640.

A Pyrotechnist or Firework-maker making a rocket. He is pulling the end of a rocket case very tightly so that it will take the explosive charge properly. From A Rich Cabinet, with Variety of Inventions by John White (London, 1658).

Late 16th century anatomy theatre by Jacques de Gehyn the Elder. From Dutch translation by Vopiscus Plemp of Barthelemy Cabrol 'Anatomical Alphabet', Amsterdam, 1633. Engraving.

Distillation; Distillatio; New inventions and discoveries; Nova Reperta. A workshop for distillation. In the foreground a scholar reads the recipe for distillation. At the front right herbs with a mortar are mild by a young assistant. Centrally a large boiler that is heated. In a painting on the wall a show of a dining room. The print has a Latin caption and is part of a ninetical series about new inventions and discoveries.

'Laboratory for the distillation of medicines. From ''Magia naturalis', Nuremberg, 1715, by Johannis Baptista della Porta. First edition 1558.'

Illustration depicting Thales of Miletus' concept of a flat earth floating above water. Thales of Miletus, a pre-Socratic Greek/ Phoenician philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. Dated 16th Century

Blumdells's Gravitator; the Lancet, 1829

Anatomical drawing by Jehan Cousin ('le jeune,' or 'the younger') in Livre de pourtraiture. (Paris, 1608).

Illustration showing The magnetic power of the sun as a sunflower showing the time of day. It is the mistaken hermetic use of theories of magnetism affecting sunflowers. From Athanasius Kircher Magnes sive de arte Magnetica, Cologne ,1643

Plate from 'Traittez des Barometres, Thermometres et Notiometres ou Hygrometres' (1688) by Joachim Alence, a French astronomer and physicist. Dated 17th Century

medicine anatomy dissection autopsy woodcut coloured from ""Anatomia"" by Mondino dei Liucci (circa 1270 - 1326) Bologna Italy 1316 edition from circa 1500 private collection,

Ptolemy, Alexandrian astronomer, mathematician and geographer Date: 2ND CENTURY

Guericke experiments on the pressure of the atmosphere air, vintage engraved illustration. From the Universe and Humanity, 1910.

Experiment with static electricity by Jean-Antoine Nollet (1700-1770) French physicist and cleric. An iron bar is suspended by silk cords about 6mm above the charged globe of an electrostatic machine. The man places his finger the same distance from the bar and draws off a discharge visible in daytlight. Engraving from 'The Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences' edited by TH Croker, Thomas Williams and Samuel Clark. (London, 1764).

18th century surgeon performing a trepanning operation on a man's head, with various surgical equipment: Jean Louis Petit's lever 2, trestle 3, Valet's pincers 4, cauterizers 5-8, round plaque 9, triangular plaque 10 and handle to mount cauterizer 11. Copperplate engraving by Robert Benard from Denis Diderot's Encyclopedia, Pellet, Geneva, 1779.

A cartoon commenting on the adulteration of food. Dated 19th century

IMPRENTA MECANICA DEL SIGLO XIX. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN.

. Neptune, the god of the sea, points to the water and cybele, the goddess of the earth, measures the land of a globe. In the foreground is geography with a tablet and pen in the hand alongside all kinds of land measuring instruments. In the background Atlas is wearing the earth. Title page for an Atlas.

A woodcut engraving depicting The Great Comet of 1456 (Halley's Comet): Pope Calixtus III excommunicated this comet. Dated 16th century

Euclid (active 300 BC) Ancient Greek mathematician, demonstrating to his students. Frontispiece of Euclid 'Opus Elementorum', Oxford, 1806.

J. Walaeus, Dissection of dog from W. Harvey, 1647

Hall of Physics in Felix Meritis, 1789; Four rooms in Felix Meritis. Demonstration of the electrical machine in the hall of physics in the building of society Felix Meritis in Amsterdam, initiated in 1789.

Elementos de Matematica (Elements of Mathematics), by the Spanish architect and mathematician Benito Bails (1730-1797). Engraving with depiction of workers labouring in a riverbed. Volume IX, 2nd part, which treats the civil architecture. Published in Madrid, 1790.

George Adams demonstrates his electrotherapy machine to a woman and her daughter. Line engraving by J. Lodge, 1799, after T. Milne.

Man the microcosm, and the universe the macrocosm by Gregor Reisch (1467-1525) a German Carthusian humanist writer. Dated 16th Century

Men of fashion attending a lecture on the anatomy of the horse. Engraving by B. Audran after Ch. Parrocel, 1733.

Compounding a Balsam; Friar's Balsam or Compound Benzoin Tincture; Black and White Illustration;

'The Brewer: The mash tun, top, in which malted barley is boiled in water. When cooled, liquor, wort, will be drawn off. Hand-coloured woodcut from ''The Book of English Trades'', London, 1823.'

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