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Discover historical illustrations by subject, artist and book.

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Blake’s Book of Urizen

Creation and rebellion in Blake’s illuminated plates.

Nielsen’s East of the Sun

Norwegian fairy tales illustrated by Kay Nielsen.

Gnostic Spirit Drawings

Four colour drawings from a 1908 Gnostic text.

Doré’s Dante

From the dark wood to Paradise with Gustave Doré.

The Kingdom of the Gods

Ethelwynne Quail’s visions of the spirit world.

Vassos’s Phobia

Art Deco studies of fear by John Vassos.

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58 illustrations

A ring of changing moons surrounds a four-part interior containing small symbolic figures. — Edmund Dulac
A ring of changing moons surrounds a four-part interior containing small symbolic figures.
A Vision

Two circular talismans, one containing a radiant triangle and the other a square surrounding a sun. — A radiant triangle inscribed Jeova fills one circular design; a square and central solar form organise the other.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

A flowering plant and magical characters inside a diamond within a square border. — A flowering stem occupies a diamond inside a square, with letters and small emblems in the surrounding compartments.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

A dragon fills a square textile panel above waves and dense ornamental patterns. — Maker or photographer not identified
A dragon fills a square textile panel above waves and dense ornamental patterns.
The Chinese Dragon

A figure sits upright in bed with hands covering the face beneath nine horizontal swords. — Pamela Colman Smith
A figure sits upright in bed with hands covering the face beneath nine horizontal swords.
The Illustrated Key to the Tarot: The Veil of Divination

A broad-robed figure spreads its arms above two pale faces. — Harry Clarke
A broad-robed figure spreads its arms above two pale faces.
Faust

A small square labelled Being stands between Spirit and Force above, Matter and Form below. — Artist not recorded
A small square labelled Being stands between Spirit and Force above, Matter and Form below.
The Book of the Simple Way

Two standing figures handle ropes as a third emerges from a square opening among ruined walls and broken columns. — Illustrator not identified
Two standing figures handle ropes as a third emerges from a square opening among ruined walls and broken columns.
Morals and Dogma

Patterned beads surround smaller pendants, including a hand, a scarab-like form and a square object bearing a face. — Illustrator not identified
Patterned beads surround smaller pendants, including a hand, a scarab-like form and a square object bearing a face.
The Evil Eye

A compact frontal figure stands with bent legs beneath a broad face and open mouth. — Artist not recorded
A compact frontal figure stands with bent legs beneath a broad face and open mouth.
Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt

An upright hand displays squared fingertips, a broad palm and a strong thumb extending to the side. — Cheiro (signed illustration)
An upright hand displays squared fingertips, a broad palm and a strong thumb extending to the side.
Cheiro’s Language of the Hand

Concentric bands of divine names enclose a square whose sides are marked with Latin names for the compass directions. — Illustrator not identified
Concentric bands of divine names enclose a square whose sides are marked with Latin names for the compass directions.
The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses

A spiral centre lies within a small square surrounded by dense concentric bands of signs and letters. — Illustrator not identified
A spiral centre lies within a small square surrounded by dense concentric bands of signs and letters.
The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses

A six-by-six grid of numbers appears above two contrasting linear signs. — Illustrator not identified
A six-by-six grid of numbers appears above two contrasting linear signs.
The Cave of the Oracle: The Great White Brotherhood

A nine-by-nine number grid fills the upper portion of a tall comparative diagram. — Illustrator not identified
A nine-by-nine number grid fills the upper portion of a tall comparative diagram.
The Cave of the Oracle: The Great White Brotherhood

A five-by-five number grid stands above a looping sign with circular terminals and a more angular device beside it. — Illustrator not identified
A five-by-five number grid stands above a looping sign with circular terminals and a more angular device beside it.
The Cave of the Oracle: The Great White Brotherhood

A seven-by-seven number grid fills the upper field above two small linear devices. — Illustrator not identified
A seven-by-seven number grid fills the upper field above two small linear devices.
The Cave of the Oracle: The Great White Brotherhood

Nine numbers occupy a three-by-three grid above two linear signs with small circular terminals. — Illustrator not identified
Nine numbers occupy a three-by-three grid above two linear signs with small circular terminals.
The Cave of the Oracle: The Great White Brotherhood

The question of a missing dog is written beneath a square horoscope dated 29 August 1646, 5 p.m. — Illustrator not identified
The question of a missing dog is written beneath a square horoscope dated 29 August 1646, 5 p.m.
The Influence of the Stars: A Book of Old World Lore

A hexagram encloses a square of letters within interlaced circular bands. — Illustrator not identified
A hexagram encloses a square of letters within interlaced circular bands.
The Tarot of the Bohemians

Two massive square towers stand on either side of a thin central spire. — W. T. Horton
Two massive square towers stand on either side of a thin central spire.
A Book of Images

Two square charts are divided into triangular houses around a central field. — Illustrator not identified
Two square charts are divided into triangular houses around a central field.
The Principles of Astrological Geomancy

Point patterns fill the triangular houses of a square chart, with planetary signs added beside them. — Illustrator not identified
Point patterns fill the triangular houses of a square chart, with planetary signs added beside them.
The Principles of Astrological Geomancy

A robed geometer uses long compasses against a brick wall covered with nested shapes. — Matthaeus Merian
A robed geometer uses long compasses against a brick wall covered with nested shapes.
Atalanta Fugiens

Two attendants bend over separate square basins beneath statues of a man and woman. — Matthaeus Merian
Two attendants bend over separate square basins beneath statues of a man and woman.
Atalanta Fugiens

A bird with a long curving neck stands within a pale crowned vessel set in a formal niche. — Illustrator not identified
A bird with a long curving neck stands within a pale crowned vessel set in a formal niche.
Splendor Solis

Three groups of number squares and line-based seals occupy the page beneath the corresponding planetary signs. — Illustrator not identified
Three groups of number squares and line-based seals occupy the page beneath the corresponding planetary signs.
The Magus; or, Celestial Intelligencer

Small square plaques alternate with tubular fittings and hanging loops along a curved silver necklace. — Illustrator not identified
Small square plaques alternate with tubular fittings and hanging loops along a curved silver necklace.
Amulets and Superstitions

A central square names John Heydon and gives his London birth information. — Illustrator not identified
A central square names John Heydon and gives his London birth information.
The Real History of the Rosicrucians

A standing figure extends both arms inside a circle, square and large triangle. — Illustrator not identified
A standing figure extends both arms inside a circle, square and large triangle.
The Real History of the Rosicrucians

Two tall pillars frame a black-and-white pavement with a central star and the letter G. — Illustrator not identified
Two tall pillars frame a black-and-white pavement with a central star and the letter G.
The Revelations of a Square

An oval design contains two architectural compartments above a round medal showing a sunlit mountain. — Illustrator not identified
An oval design contains two architectural compartments above a round medal showing a sunlit mountain.
The Revelations of a Square

A large circular field encloses several small temple and lodge designs beneath the heading Speculum of Wisdom. — Illustrator not identified
A large circular field encloses several small temple and lodge designs beneath the heading Speculum of Wisdom.
The Revelations of a Square

An inscribed ornamental heading sits above a small six-pointed star and a formal dedication. — Illustrator not identified
An inscribed ornamental heading sits above a small six-pointed star and a formal dedication.
The Revelations of a Square

A standing man extends both arms across a square frame intersected by diagonal lines. — Illustrator not identified
A standing man extends both arms across a square frame intersected by diagonal lines.
Occultism Simplified, or The Mystic Thesaurus

A man with arms stretched above his head stands at the centre of a square crossed by diagonals. — Illustrator not identified
A man with arms stretched above his head stands at the centre of a square crossed by diagonals.
Occultism Simplified, or The Mystic Thesaurus

Straight lines form triangles, squares and crossing chords within two circular fields. — Illustrator not identified
Straight lines form triangles, squares and crossing chords within two circular fields.
The Light of Egypt

A square temple-like enclosure lies within a broad circular field above a mountain landscape. — Illustrator not identified
A square temple-like enclosure lies within a broad circular field above a mountain landscape.
The Secret of the Golden Flower

Four separated square layers carry numbers within a projected cubic framework. — Claude Bragdon
Four separated square layers carry numbers within a projected cubic framework.
A Primer of Higher Space

Small cubes and intersecting clusters are arranged beside triangular, polygonal and square sections. — Claude Bragdon
Small cubes and intersecting clusters are arranged beside triangular, polygonal and square sections.
A Primer of Higher Space

Several complete and partly filled squares combine repeated letters and reversed sequences. — Illustrator not identified
Several complete and partly filled squares combine repeated letters and reversed sequences.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage

Six numbered arrangements range from full squares to narrow L-shaped borders. — Illustrator not identified
Six numbered arrangements range from full squares to narrow L-shaped borders.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage

Complete and interrupted squares place letters along borders, diagonals and small inner corners. — Illustrator not identified
Complete and interrupted squares place letters along borders, diagonals and small inner corners.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage

Six outlined fields contain letters grouped into corners, borders and smaller internal squares. — Illustrator not identified
Six outlined fields contain letters grouped into corners, borders and smaller internal squares.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage

A standing man extends both arms across a square grid filled with measuring lines and diagonal chords. — After Cesare Cesariano’s edition of Vitruvius
A standing man extends both arms across a square grid filled with measuring lines and diagonal chords.
Man the Grand Symbol of the Mysteries

A human figure spreads its arms and legs within a shaded circle and a large square grid. — After Cesare Cesariano’s edition of Vitruvius
A human figure spreads its arms and legs within a shaded circle and a large square grid.
Man the Grand Symbol of the Mysteries

An opened rectangular box exposes a small mechanism under the lid and a broad flap extending from one side. — Illustrator not identified
An opened rectangular box exposes a small mechanism under the lid and a broad flap extending from one side.
Later Magic

Several riders gather outside a square stone tower beside a castellated wall. — Illustrator not identified
Several riders gather outside a square stone tower beside a castellated wall.
The Mabinogion

48 of 58 shown

Gallery: Historical Illustrations & Book Art | Lumitheca