Mylius version of the Rosarium philosophorum series

This is a famous series of 20 woodcuts which were first printed in 1550. In 1622 J. D. Mylius' Philosophia reformata was published by Lucas Jennis at Frankfurt. This work included three series of engravings by Balthazar Schwan, one of which is a reworking of the earlier woodcuts, but in a new symbolic language. These engravings were reused in Daniel Stolcius Viridarium chemicum 'The chemical pleasure garden' an emblem book of 1624.
See Rosarium philosophorum. Click on image to see an enlarged version. Back to symbolism page.