1-156-274 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

Chemist, 1508. A chemist or alchemist is using bellows to heat up the fire under a crucible. Behind him an alembic standing on a furnace is being used for distillation. Distillate condenses in the rounded hood of the alembic and runs down through the beak into a collecting vessel. From Margarita philosophica (The Pearl of Philosophy) by Gregor Reisch. (Basel, 1508). This book was an early encyclopaedia of knowledge for students.