concept

A goddess (Bellona?) surrounded by stags, rabbits or hares, demons and owls. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

Three-tiered symbolic diagram of the art of alchemy: top level, symbols of the states of matter; middle level, cabalistic diagrams; lower level, the two techniques of alchemy: distillation and calcination. Engraving by R. Custos, 1616.

A woman plays music to a stag; God condemns Adam and Eve to exile; representing the sense of hearing. Engraving by N. de Bruyn after M. de Vos.

Rivers running in the wilderness, with serpents and fire between them; representing the stage of 'multiplication' in the alchemical process. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

Dragons and griffins around a lone flowering tree in a landscape on the outskirts of a town; representing a stage in the alchemical process. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

A female figure with bowls of fruit and a monkey; Eve picks the apple from the tree of knowledge; representing the sense of taste. Engraving by N. de Bruyn after M. de Vos.

A tortoise climbs up a female figure as she reaches out to a bird; in the background Adam and Eve are chased from Eden by the archangel Michael with his sword; representing the sense of touch. Engraving by N. de Bruyn after M. de Vos.

A woman looking into a hand-mirror; in the background God shows Adam and Eve the tree of knowledge. Engraving by N. de Bruyn after M. de Vos.

An old man discourses with a woman with a bird on her head; representing dialectic. Engraving by C. Cort, 1565, after F. Floris, c. 1557.

A dog looks on as a man and a woman smell a flower; representing the sense of smell. Engraving.

The goddess Bellona flanked by two stags; beneath are two gryphons. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

A woman with a castle on her head traces a compass across a globe while two men crouch over it; representing geometry. Engraving by C. Cort, 1565, after F. Floris, c. 1557.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

Please note, due to essential maintenance work to our systems, you will be unable to request items in our collections; apply for, renew or pre-register for a library membership; or use our computers, laptops and printers from 06:00 on Saturday 12 July until 06:00 on Sunday 13 July. Our library will remain open as usual. Thank you for your understanding.

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Take part in research

Animals - Symbolic aspects

Images from the collections

Images about Animals - Symbolic aspects

Works from the collections

A female figure with bowls of fruit and a monkey; Eve picks the apple from the tree of knowledge; representing the sense of taste. Engraving by N. de Bruyn after M. de Vos.

Three-tiered symbolic diagram of the art of alchemy: top level, symbols of the states of matter; middle level, cabalistic diagrams; lower level, the two techniques of alchemy: distillation and calcination. Engraving by R. Custos, 1616.

Rivers running in the wilderness, with serpents and fire between them; representing the stage of 'multiplication' in the alchemical process. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

The goddess Bellona flanked by two stags; beneath are two gryphons. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

A woman with a castle on her head traces a compass across a globe while two men crouch over it; representing geometry. Engraving by C. Cort, 1565, after F. Floris, c. 1557.

Animals - Symbolic aspects

Images from the collections

Images about Animals - Symbolic aspects

Works from the collections

A female figure with bowls of fruit and a monkey; Eve picks the apple from the tree of knowledge; representing the sense of taste. Engraving by N. de Bruyn after M. de Vos.

Three-tiered symbolic diagram of the art of alchemy: top level, symbols of the states of matter; middle level, cabalistic diagrams; lower level, the two techniques of alchemy: distillation and calcination. Engraving by R. Custos, 1616.

Rivers running in the wilderness, with serpents and fire between them; representing the stage of 'multiplication' in the alchemical process. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

The goddess Bellona flanked by two stags; beneath are two gryphons. Engraving by E. Delaune, ca. 1560.

A woman with a castle on her head traces a compass across a globe while two men crouch over it; representing geometry. Engraving by C. Cort, 1565, after F. Floris, c. 1557.

Related topics