A human body is consumed by a furnace; a woman holds a small red limbless effigy bearing a crown; a man holds a sheaf, and another a stick; below, by another furnace, a green and red dragon face each other, poised for combat; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified]

1 print : etching, with watercolour ; platemark 20.4 x 15 cm

Bears number: 6

Jacques van Lennep, Alchimie, Brussels 1984, pp. 134-144

Wellcome Collection 38628i

From a collection of five prints (Wellcome Library nos. 38626i, 38627i, 38628i, 38629i, 38630i) stored in the Wellcome Library with a set of prints relating to the writings of Nicolas Flamel. The collection seems to comprise two disparate series (the number 6 appears twice) Although similar in style to the Flamel-related series (Wellcome Library nos. 38032i, 38186i, 38187i, 38199i, 38209i, 38211i, 38213i, 38052i, 38053i), they do not seem to be directly related, because 1) the numbering in the latter series includes some of the numbers of this collection and 2) thematic differences: the Flamel-related series comprisesubjects either related to Flamel's writings or the Book of Revelation. Here the imagery seems to be more arcanely alchemical