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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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52 illustrations

Two robed men stand within a ritual circle before a pale figure in a moonlit churchyard. — Edward Kelley and a companion stand inside a ritual circle while a shrouded figure appears in a moonlit churchyard.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

Rows of handwritten names and small magical characters in black ink. — Angelic names, sigils, zodiac signs and planetary symbols are arranged beside the names and characters of Olympic spirits.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

An arrangement of crosses, circular emblems, keys and other black ceremonial signs. — Eight numbered designs combine Tau signs, a Chi-Rho emblem, a barred double door, a sword and smaller circular forms.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

Nine circular pentacles containing stars, crosses and letter-like symbols. — Nine circular designs combine geometric figures, lettering and monograms.
The Book of Black Magic and of Pacts

A woman lifts one arm above a seated prince whose ankles and wrists are restrained. — Henry Justice Ford
A woman lifts one arm above a seated prince whose ankles and wrists are restrained.
The Yellow Fairy Book

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 young man bends forward and empties a sack towards the flames at the foot of a tree. — Henry Justice Ford
A young man bends forward and empties a sack towards the flames at the foot of a tree.
The Yellow Fairy Book

A crowned ruler looks down from a high balcony over ranks of armed men. — Henry Justice Ford
A crowned ruler looks down from a high balcony over ranks of armed men.
The Yellow Fairy Book

A crowned, bearded figure is reflected upside down across a horizontal division within a serpent-shaped oval. Interlaced triangles cross the two figures, while curved inscriptions distinguish the upper and lower portions of the design. — Artist not recorded
A crowned, bearded figure is reflected upside down across a horizontal division within a serpent-shaped oval.
Transcendental Magic

A raised hand with two extended fingers casts a dark parallel silhouette. Lettering curves around the pair, with Hebrew characters and small divided geometric emblems above. Fine hatching surrounds the wrist and separates the light hand from its shadow. — Artist not recorded
A raised hand with two extended fingers casts a dark parallel silhouette.
Transcendental Magic

A six-pointed arrangement of triangles surrounds a human face, an eagle, a bull and a lion. Beneath it are two circular diagrams with radial divisions, inscriptions and symbols. Adonai is printed beside the upper portion, with further lettering below. — Artist not recorded
A six-pointed arrangement of triangles surrounds a human face, an eagle, a bull and a lion.
Transcendental Magic

A circular design encloses a triangle, three small rings, crosses and a central sign. A skull, horns, a flame and two small candles appear around its boundary. Names curve around the outside, with a two-line identifying caption below. — Artist not recorded
A circular design encloses a triangle, three small rings, crosses and a central sign.
Transcendental Magic

Seven circular emblems are arranged around a cross-shaped field of lettering. The central circle contains a radiating disk and an encircling serpent; the surrounding wheels contain figures, instruments, animal forms and inscriptions. A two-line caption closes the composition. — Artist not recorded
Seven circular emblems are arranged around a cross-shaped field of lettering.
Transcendental Magic

A five-pointed star connects five white discs around Hebrew lettering and a central triangular field. — Illustrator not identified
Five white discs occupy the points of a star against a black field.
The History of Magic

Two interlocking triangles surround a crowned, bearded figure within an oval of lettering. — Illustrator not identified
A crowned, bearded figure is mirrored upside down inside an oval serpent border.
The History of Magic

A radiant circular design encloses a central triangle and a dark flame-like letterform. — Illustrator not identified
Alternating rays radiate from a dark central field containing a pale triangle and a bold letter-like form.
The History of Magic

A gesturing figure faces an assembled company beneath airborne bodies and winged forms. — Illustrator not identified
A gesturing figure faces an assembled company beneath a tumult of airborne bodies and winged forms.
The History of Magic

A vertical arrangement of circular emblems combines human figures, stars and Hebrew lettering. — Illustrator not identified
Seven circular emblems surround a central field of Greek and Hebrew lettering.
The History of Magic

A seated practitioner faces a small table bearing a crystal within a circular diagram. — Illustrator not identified
A seated practitioner faces a small table bearing a crystal within a circular diagram.
Crystal-Gazing and Spiritual Clairvoyance

Decorated elephants carry seated figures above a dense gathering. — Illustrator not identified
Decorated elephants carry seated figures above a dense gathering.
The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism

A horned stone figure leans over a parapet with its chin held between its hands. — Illustrator not identified
A horned stone figure leans over a parapet with its chin held between its hands.
Magic: Black and White Charms and Counter Charms

Four circular devices occupy separate compartments beneath handwritten descriptions. — Illustrator not identified
Four circular devices occupy separate compartments beneath handwritten descriptions.
Raphael's Ancient Manuscript of Talismanic Magic

A large ringed pentacle for Jupiter and Thursday appears above two smaller devices. — Illustrator not identified
A large ringed pentacle for Jupiter and Thursday appears above two smaller devices.
Raphael's Ancient Manuscript of Talismanic Magic

A large pentacle headed for Venus and Friday stands above two smaller lettered circles. — Illustrator not identified
A large pentacle headed for Venus and Friday stands above two smaller lettered circles.
Raphael's Ancient Manuscript of Talismanic Magic

Several figures gather around a tilted, inscribed circle in a wooded landscape. — Illustrator not identified
Several figures gather around a tilted, inscribed circle in a wooded landscape.
The Old Book of Magic

Two jugglers raise wands over tables of implements. — Illustrator not identified
Two jugglers raise wands over tables of implements.
The Tarot of the Bohemians

Three cups labelled A, B and C stand in a row on a decorated conjuring table. — Illustrator not identified
Three cups labelled A, B and C stand in a row on a decorated conjuring table.
Magician's Book of Conjuring

An open hand displays a small ball retained near the base of the fingers. — Illustrator not identified
An open hand displays a small ball retained near the base of the fingers.
Magician's Book of Conjuring

A large ball is held against the lower edge of a top hat while the performer’s hands conceal the handling. — Illustrator not identified
A large ball is held against the lower edge of a top hat while the performer’s hands conceal the handling.
Magician's Book of Conjuring

Two hands hold a large ball in front of a top hat. — Illustrator not identified
Two hands hold a large ball in front of a top hat.
Magician's Book of Conjuring

A small patterned bag hangs from a narrow ribbon handle. — Illustrator not identified
A small patterned bag hangs from a narrow ribbon handle.
Magician's Book of Conjuring

A rectangular mirror filled with concentric rings stands between two tall candles above an inverted triangle. — Illustrator not identified
A rectangular mirror filled with concentric rings stands between two tall candles above an inverted triangle.
The Book of Ceremonial Magic

Circles labelled Geburah, Chesed, Hod, Netsah and Jesod descend between star-bearing circles. — Illustrator not identified
Circles labelled Geburah, Chesed, Hod, Netsah and Jesod descend between star-bearing circles.
The Philosophy of Natural Magic

Concentric inscribed bands enclose a central radiant field with divine and celestial emblems. — Illustrator not identified
Concentric inscribed bands enclose a central radiant field with divine and celestial emblems.
The Philosophy of Natural Magic

A seated white-bearded man wears strings of rounded stones across his chest, head and arms. — Photographer not identified
A seated white-bearded man wears strings of rounded stones across his chest, head and arms.
The Magic of Jewels and Charms

A winged figure raises one hand before an older bearded man and a kneeling youth offering vessels and chains. — Giovanni Biliverti (source painting)
A winged figure raises one hand before an older bearded man and a kneeling youth offering vessels and chains.
The Magic of Jewels and Charms

Four coloured cards show the Fool, Juggler, Wheel of Fortune and Death. — Illustrator not identified
Four coloured cards show the Fool, Juggler, Wheel of Fortune and Death.
Witchcraft Magic and Alchemy

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

Two circular geometric patterns divide a tabletop into rings and smaller fields. — Illustrator not identified
Two circular geometric patterns divide a tabletop into rings and smaller fields.
Later Magic

Five upright loop diagrams compare separate rings, linked rings, a long loop and a knotted-looking result. — Illustrator not identified
Five upright loop diagrams compare separate rings, linked rings, a long loop and a knotted-looking result.
Later Magic

Six upright tubes numbered I to VI stand upon a slab supported by low trestles. — Illustrator not identified
Six upright tubes numbered I to VI stand upon a slab supported by low trestles.
Later Magic

A domed wire cage stands on short feet beneath a lifting ring, with small compartments projecting from its lower sides. — Illustrator not identified
A domed wire cage stands on short feet beneath a lifting ring, with small compartments projecting from its lower sides.
Later Magic

Small groups of people and fantastic beings occupy a densely arranged scene around a steaming cauldron. — Illustrator not identified
Small groups of people and fantastic beings occupy a densely arranged scene around a steaming cauldron.
Magica Sexualis

Two men stand side by side in a formal photographic portrait. — Photographer not identified
Two men stand side by side in a formal photographic portrait.
A Magician Among the Spirits

A crowded company of oddly shaped figures fills the page with pink robes, dark hair and a huge pale-green face. — Warwick Goble
A crowded company of oddly shaped figures fills the page with pink robes, dark hair and a huge pale-green face.
Green Willow and Other Japanese Fairy Tales

A dark horned figure stands behind a pale goat and a heap of angular bones. — Alexander King
A dark horned figure stands behind a pale goat and a heap of angular bones.
The Magic Island

Faces, raised arms and bent bodies fill the frame without a clear division between foreground and background. — Alexander King
Faces, raised arms and bent bodies fill the frame without a clear division between foreground and background.
The Magic Island

48 of 52 shown

Gallery: Historical Illustrations & Book Art | Lumitheca