1
of
1
Art of Alchemy
Series: Wunderkammer
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 12 ratings, 4 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Hardback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK
Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock
Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Art of Alchemy. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book explores how the art of alchemy transformed human creative culture from antiquity to the industrial age, and how its legacy still permeates the world today.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
"Among all the arts, it is the art of alchemy which most closely imitates nature." - Albertus Magnus (teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas), ca. 1250
Alchemists are notorious for attempting to synthesise gold. Their goals, however, were far more ambitious: to transform and bend nature to the will of an industrious human imagination. For scientists, philosophers, and artists alike, alchemy seemed to hold the key to unlocking the secrets of creation.
Alchemists' efforts to discover the way the world is made have had an enduring impact on global artistic practice and expression. Concoctions produced in the world's alchemy labs include inks, dyes, and oil paints; cements and ceramic glazing; dazzling effects in metalwork and glass. These led to modern media which now claim boasting rights as the ultimate chemical mirrors of nature: photography and the liquid crystal displays of the digital world.
Alchemy may well be the most important human invention after the harnessing of fire. It was certainly a direct result, with consequences both inspired and dire. The field spurred on advancements in the visual arts and aids to human health. Ancient Chinese alchemists also unleashed the black magic of gunpowder onto the world of warfare.
Art of Alchemy is the first book to explore how the art of alchemy globally transformed human creative culture from antiquity to the industrial age, and it displays the ways its legacy still permeates the world we make today.
AUTHOR: Since 2002, David Brafman has been the rare books curator at the Getty Research Institute. In 2016-2017, he curated the exhibition The Art of Alchemy. He is coauthor of Insects and Flowers: The Art of Maria Sibylla Merian (Getty, 2008) and L.A. Graffiti Black Book (Getty, 2021), and he is a contributor to Cave Temples of Dunhuang: Buddhist Art on China's Silk Road (Getty, 2016).
SELLING POINTS:
- All there is to know about alchemy, in beautiful pictures and fascinating stories.
- Easy to read, richly illustrated with unique images and prints.
- By David Brafman, Curator of Rare Books at the Getty Research Institute.
- New book in the successful Wunderkammer series.
Featuring 180 colour and 40 black and white illustrations.
Series: Wunderkammer
View all-
Art of Alchemy
"Among all the arts, it is the art of alchemy which most closely imitates nature." - Albertus Magnus (teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas), ca. 1250 Alchemists are notorious for attempting to synthesise gold. Their goals, however, were far more ambitious: to transform and bend nature to the will of an industrious human imagination. For scientists, philosophers, and artists alike, alchemy...HardbackSold Out
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9789401488808
Publisher: Lannoo Publishers
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 28 September 2023
Country: Belgium
Imprint: Lannoo Publishers
Illustration: 40 Illustrations, black and white; 180 Illustrations, color
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 22.0mm
Width: 185.0mm
Height: 245.0mm
Weight: 764g
Pages: 176
About the Author
Since 2002, David Brafman has been the rare books curator at the Getty Research Institute. In 2016-2017 he curated the exhibition The Art of Alchemy. He is coauthor of Insects and Flowers: The Art of Maria Sibylla Merian (Getty, 2008) and L.A. Graffiti Black Book (Getty, 2021) and is a contributor to Cave Temples of Dunhuang: Buddhist Art on China's Silk Road (Getty, 2016).
Also by David Brafman
View all-
LA Graffiti Black Book
This collection of unique works by 151 Los Angeles graffiti and tattoo artists represents an unprecedented collaboration across the city's diverse artistic landscape. Many graffiti artists carry sketchbooks, called black books, and they ask crew members and others whose work they admire to inscribe their books with lettering or drawings. A few years ago, the Getty Research Institute invited artists,...Hardback$7199Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks
More from Religion & Spirituality
View all-
New Release2027 Witch's Diary - Southern Hemisphere
From the bestselling authors of Spellcasting, which has now sold over 250,000 copies worldwide, comes the essential witchy journal to plan your days, harness magick, and connect with higher powers. Features include: 8" x 6" (8" x 12" open) Beautiful glossy gold gatefold cover Compact size, perfect to carry in your bag and keep on you throughout the day 12-month...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New Release2027 Lunar and Seasonal Diary - Southern Hemisphere
Renowned witch Stacey Demarco helps you get the most out of the moon phases and seasons. This planner includes lunar timings and explanations of the moon phases and their impact on us along with practical magical suggestions to work with the energies of each season.Features include: • 8"" x 6"" planner (8"" x 12"" open) • Spiral binding allows the pages to...Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
NKJV, Gift and Award Bible, Leather-Look, White, Red Letter, Comfort Print
Commemorate a special accomplishment or event with a gift to be treasured for years to come. The popular and reliable New King James Version with the enhanced readability of Thomas Nelson’s custom NKJV font is now the perfect gift. The NKJV, Gift and Award Bible is a great way to recognise someone for a job well done. This special-occasion Bible...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Braiding Sweetgrass
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a graceful and illuminating study of the wisdom of the natural world, bringing together the knowledge of modern science with the teachings of Indigenous cultures. At its heart, the book explores the interconnectedness between humans and nature, offering profound insights on how this relationship can foster a deeper ecological consciousness. As a botanist...Paperback$2200Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The King Is Coming
Bestselling author John Bevere challenges Christians to take a fresh and honest look at one of the most often misunderstood and avoided truths of the Christian faith—the second coming of Jesus. Through personal testimony, biblical accuracy, and practical guidance, readers will be inspired to live a life of spiritual vigilance as they prepare for the glorious return of our King....Paperback$2999Elsewhere:$3500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
NIV, Holy Bible, Economy Edition, Paperback, Comfort Print
Hope for your everyday life. The New International Version of the Bible is today’s most popular modern-English translation. This low-cost Bible, featuring extra helps that are ideal for evangelism and an easy-to-read Comfort Print® typeface, is perfect for churches and ministries looking to distribute God’s Word in bulk through their outreach events. Features include: The full text of the accurate,...Paperback$1000Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips late August -
The Practice of Not Thinking
Bestselling author and Zen priest Ryunosuke Koike teaches us how to reconnect with our five senses and move towards enlightenment. What would happen if we learnt to look instead of see, listen instead of hear, and feel instead of touch? With remarkable clarity, Ryunosuke Koike shares the ways we can incorporate Zen practice into our daily life, resulting in a...Paperback$2100Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Prosperous Heart
Cameron is a veteran of the modern self-care movement — THE NEW YORK TIMES Discover the true meaning of prosperity and abundance in this uplifting and beneficial guide — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Create a sense of security and wealth in your life by applying Julia Cameron's bestselling Artist's Way techniques to the topic of prosperity. How do we keep a roof...Paperback$3799Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Odyssey
The epic final chapter to Stephen Fry's outstanding retellings of the Greek Myths. Troy has fallen. After 10 years of war, the Greeks make their way back to their own lands—but what homes now await them? Agamemnon must return to his wife Clytemnestra, who has been nursing her rage since he sacrificed their daughter to the gods for a favourable...Paperback$2300Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New Release2027 Moon Goddess Diary - Southern Hemisphere
This full-colour, beautifully illustrated planner will teach you how to harness the energy and guidance of the moon, seasons, and sacred celebrations of 2027 so you can thrive throughout the year.As you're guided through the year, learn how to use crystals, essential oils, affirmations, and rituals to harness your inner goddess. You'll also discover how to live in harmony and...Paperback$2499Elsewhere:$2899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Make-Believe
From the actor in Skins and Games of Thrones, a deeply intimate, shockingly honest memoir about acting, fame, mental illness and the struggle to leave a cult-like organisation whose belief in magic shattered Hannah's reality. In 2017, Hannah Murray was a successful actor whose career had taken her to Hollywood and given her the opportunity to act with A-list stars...Paperback$3199Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Falling Upward, Revised and Updated
An update to the bestselling Falling Upward from Franciscan Father Richard Rohr In the revised and updated edition of Falling Upward, Richard Rohr seeks to help readers come to terms with the two halves of life. In this book, Rohr teaches us that we cannot understand the meaning of "up" until we have fallen "down." More importantly, Rohr describes what...Hardback$4700Elsewhere:$5199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
