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Black and white engraving of a cluttered alchemist's laboratory; a young man drinks from a glass while an older man slumps on the floor near an open book.

The Elixir of Long Life: alchemist's laboratory engraving

A wood engraving shows a cluttered alchemist's laboratory with a stone furnace, shelves of flasks and jars, and a skull hanging above. A young man in tights drinks from a glass while an older man slumps on the floor beside an open book. Bats and smoke fill the upper corners.

Artist
Hablot Knight Browne
Date
[1865]
Medium
Wood engravings
Source
Wellcome Collection
Size
2837 × 4000 px
Download full size
Public domain · Wellcome Collection marks it Public Domain Mark; made by 1865.
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

Alchemy and Hidden Wisdom19th centurybook illustrationwood engravingelixir of lifeskullfurnacealchemistbatsalchemy laboratoryphizold agemonochrome

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