J. B. Craven
1850 to 1924; Scottish Episcopal priest and rector of St Olaf's at Kirkwall in Orkney, and the biographer of Robert Fludd, whose life of him the archive quotes on Fludd's engravings.
Readings given
10 passages on 3 pictures in the archive, from Doctor Robert Fludd (Robertus de Fluctibus), the English Rosicrucian: Life and Writings.
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Integrae Naturae Speculum Artisque Imago
chapter IX, describing the plate
“At the top stand in cloud, surrounded by a glory, the Sacred Name; a hand issuing holds a chain, which, going down, is fastened on the hand of the universal mother.”
“She has a starry nimbus, and is adorned with the sun and moon on her breasts. From the sun, which covers the right breast, issues a fructifying shower.”
“The system, in circle, as drawn by Fludd, has at the three outermost regions, illumined by tongues of fire, three orders of angels; cherubim highest, next seraphim, then what appear to be either ransomed souls or more ordinary angelic beings.”
“At either side are the male and female persons and qualities.”
“On the feminine side, we have woman, the eagle, the snail, the fishes, wheat, flowers and roots, silver, copper, Auripigmentum, 'sal Armoniacum,' with the sign of Venus, connected with the 'Sphaera Veneris.'”
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chapter IX
“Without motion, colour, or perception, in fact, 'without form and void,' shrouded in darkness, he gives a square illustration, a black and formless sheet of darkness, which he labels 'Et sic in infinitum.'”
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Man the Microcosm, the title page of Utriusque Cosmi Historia
chapter IX, describing the title page
“Surrounding the border are the signs of the Zodiac, and towards the centre certain circles, 'Pituita Sanguis Cholera.' The centre itself represents the earthly globe.”
“At the first glance, the engraved title-page will show the enquiring reader that no ordinary work is before him. A mass of clouds surround the whole page. Below the title is a diagram of macrocosm and the microcosm.”
chapter IX, describing the title page; the line-break hyphen of four-fold closed, and his sentence goes on to the sandglass on the figure's head
“A four-fold cord surrounds the circle, which is being drawn by Time, represented as a winged being with hoofs, who, walking upon the clouds, draws the rope with both hands.”
chapter IX, describing the title page; his sentence runs on to the microcosm
“Looking at the circle below, we find the outer part, with the sun and moon, &c., enclosing the inner”