Antique Print of the Mandrake (c.1725)

Description: Antique print titled 'Mandragoras Door Konst Opgemaakt; zo in Het Naakte, als Gekleed'. Based on the mandrake with its flowers and fruit. According to the legend, when the root is dug up it screams and kills all who hear it. Their roots have long been used in magic rituals. These engravings are likely from Augustin Calmet's writings on the Bible. This multi-volume work was known in English as Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible, and was translated into several languages including Dutch, the edition from which these illustrations were extracted.

Artists and Engravers: Anonymous.