A red-faced king stands in a red robe, flanked by a queen and the deity Mercury in green clothes; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

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38627i
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view A red-faced king stands in a red robe, flanked by a queen and the deity Mercury in green clothes; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

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Credit

A red-faced king stands in a red robe, flanked by a queen and the deity Mercury in green clothes; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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Description

The empty red robe of the previous print (Wellcome Library no. 38626i) has been filled by a red-faced king. To his right, a queen stands under the sun; to his left Mercury walks towards him under the moon, carrying a caduceus

Publication/Creation

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

Physical description

1 print : etching, with watercolour ; platemark 20.5 x 14.9 cm

Lettering

Bears number: 6

Notes

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

References note

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

Reference

Wellcome Collection 38627i

Type/Technique

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