William Pether

The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and Prays for the Successful Conclusion of his Operation, as was the Custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers

1775
mezzotint

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FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Joseph Wright of Derby’s composition was based on the story of Hennig Brand, the German alchemist who accidentally discovered phosphorus in 1676.

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