Axial Commons Image Treasury
Mezzotint of a man in a dark robe lifting a round glass flask, with an hourglass and apparatus on a table beside him.

The Alchemist: man peering into a glass flask, mezzotint after Northcote

A mezzotint portrait of a man in a dark robe and white collar raising a round glass flask toward his eye, gazing at it intently. On the right, a sand hourglass and scientific apparatus rest on a table beside his hands, with the engraved words The Alchemist beneath.

Artist
James Northcote
Date
1819
Medium
Mezzotints
Source
Wellcome Collection
Size
2978 × 4000 px
Download full size
Public domain · Wellcome Collection marks it Public Domain Mark; made by 1819.
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: Public Domain Mark (Wellcome Collection)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Wellcome Collection

More from Alchemy and Hidden Wisdom

The pregnant Virgin Mary, with a dragon at her feet; representing a stage in the alchemical process. Colour painting after etching, 1772/3.The pregnant Virgin Mary, with a dragon at her feet; representing a stage in the alchemicaAn alchemist stoking a furnace in a dimly lit room, as daylight shines through a window. Engraving by P-F. Basan after T. Wyck.An alchemist stoking a furnace in a dimly lit room, as daylight shines through a window. EAn alchemist with his assistants in his laboratory. Engraving by J.P. Le Bas, 1747, after D. Teniers.An alchemist with his assistants in his laboratory. Engraving by J.P. Le Bas, 1747, after A triumphal arch decorated with Papal, Christian, Imperial and Habsburgian emblems: in the centre Philip II of Spain, surrounded by emblems of peace, justice and plenty, receives the crown from his father, Charles V; representing the good and Christian reign of Philip II. Engraving by N. Nelli.A triumphal arch decorated with Papal, Christian, Imperial and Habsburgian emblems: in theTheatrum chemicum Britannicum. Containing severall poeticall pieces of our famous English philosophers, who have written the Hermetique mysteries in their owne ancient language / Faithfully collected into one volume, with annotations thereon, by Elias Ashmole, esq. Qui est Mercuriophilus anglicus. The first part.Theatrum chemicum Britannicum. Containing severall poeticall pieces of our famous English An alchemist peering into a glass vessel. Mezzotint by F.R. Say, 1819, after J. Northcote.An alchemist peering into a glass vessel. Mezzotint by F.R. Say, 1819, after J. Northcote.