Art, Symbol & Imagination
The Woman and the Toad: Emblem V
A woman holds a small toad against her breast while a man faces her on a city terrace. Their hands and gaze meet around the central animal. Emblem V uses this disturbing nursing image as an alchemical allegory of transfer and transformation.
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Citation
Matthaeus Merian. "The Woman and the Toad: Emblem V" [editorial title]. In Atalanta Fugiens, Michael Maier. Inspected engraved title: Oppenheim, Hieronymus Galler for Johann Theodor de Bry, M DC XVIII (1618). Latin and German historical printing with musical fugues and engraved emblems, final errata. Printing date checked on an enlarged crop of the existing title derivative. No modern English translation or new commentary., 1618, Hieronymus Galler for Johann Theodor de Bry. Source scan leaf 37. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/maier-toad-and-woman
Source details
Editorial title and description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Descriptive title supplied for browsing. The complete original page retains its Latin motto, epigram, margins and paper tone. The scene belongs to Maier’s historical alchemical allegory.
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Matthaeus Merian. The Woman and the Toad: Emblem V. Atalanta Fugiens. Scan leaf 37. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/maier-toad-and-woman