concept

The Virgin Mary and the Christ child, with Saint Augustine, Saint George, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Stephen and an angel with a lily. Drawing by F. Rosaspina, c. 1830, after F. Francia.

Christ winnowing evil from the human heart; a penitent bathing in the blood and water from Christ's side; an angel locking a dragon in hell. Engraving by H. Goltzius, 1578.

A putto pours a phial into a dragon's mouth, pumping a bellows with his other hand; representing the fixing of volatile matter in the alchemical process. Watercolour painting by E.A. Ibbs.

The woman clothed with the sun is attacked by a seven-headed dragon; her child is ejected up to God: representing the 12th Book of Revelation. Engraving.

A scholar in a surgeon's workroom with a jar of spirits containing Saint Michael defeating a dragon with a barbued tonge; representing the scholar's knowledge of chemistry enabling surgeons to heal, by setting the beneficent force of alkalis against the noxious force of acids. Etching by P.P. Bouche, ca. 1686.

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.

The archangel Michael, holding a flaming sword and the scales of justice; in heaven the angels kneel before Christ; representing the Day of Judgement. Woodcut.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola: he drives away with a stick a dragon representing the devil. Engraving.

Three men ride through the sky on black, red and white lions (colours of the alchemical process); beneath, men lay sprawled among dismembered limbs. Coloured etching after etching, ca. 17th century.

The mystic marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria to the Christ child; Saint Joseph looks at angels who bear attributes of Saint Barbara and Saint Margaret. Drawing by F. Rosaspina, c. 1830, after A. Tiarini.

Sketch of a dragon.

A camel surrounded by various named animals, flowers and insects, including a giraffe and flying dragon. Engraving by D. Loggan, 1663, after W. Hollar.

Vlyssis Aldrovandi patricii Bononiensis Serpentum, et draconu[m] historiae libri duo / Bartholomaeus Ambrosinus ... pr[a]efectus summo labore opus concinnauit ... cum indice memorabilium, nec non uariaru[m] linguaru[m] locupletissimo ... ; sumptibus M Antonij Berni[a]e bibliopol[a]e Bononiensis.

Bellerophon slaying the Chimera; representing the defeat of heresy (Protestantism) in Belgium by Ferdinand of Spain. Etching by T. van Thulden, c. 1640, after P.P. Rubens, 1635.

Aesculapius, transformed into a dragon, embarks from Epidaurus on to a ship bound for Rome following the request from the Roman ambassadors that he stop the plague in Rome. Engraving attributed to Briot, 16--.

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Dragons

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Sketch of a dragon.

A camel surrounded by various named animals, flowers and insects, including a giraffe and flying dragon. Engraving by D. Loggan, 1663, after W. Hollar.

Vlyssis Aldrovandi patricii Bononiensis Serpentum, et draconu[m] historiae libri duo / Bartholomaeus Ambrosinus ... pr[a]efectus summo labore opus concinnauit ... cum indice memorabilium, nec non uariaru[m] linguaru[m] locupletissimo ... ; sumptibus M Antonij Berni[a]e bibliopol[a]e Bononiensis.

Bellerophon slaying the Chimera; representing the defeat of heresy (Protestantism) in Belgium by Ferdinand of Spain. Etching by T. van Thulden, c. 1640, after P.P. Rubens, 1635.

Aesculapius, transformed into a dragon, embarks from Epidaurus on to a ship bound for Rome following the request from the Roman ambassadors that he stop the plague in Rome. Engraving attributed to Briot, 16--.