Customer Reviews

Witchcraft, Magic and Alchemy (Dover Occult)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a classic photo-reproduction of the Artium Magister, Grillot de Givry's: 'Le Musee des sorciers, mages et alchemists' (1929). It is an Art Historical tour of the Occult heritage in virtually all the classical Arts; from painting and illuminated manuscript, to sculpture and architecture, as well as a vast body of Literature, including many extremely rare & beautiful manuscripts "writ in the sublimest poesy" found mostly in private French and Parisian libraries, the Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal, and from the exemplary Art Historian's own collection. Some 375-plus high-quality Black & White Illustrations on archival glossed paper make this a valuable document for both Occultists' and Artists/Art Historians of varied fields of inquiry. This is the book which more than any other inspired and taught the SURREALIST'S about all the Occult Arenas which were so much a part of their heritage dating back just a few decades before to the late 19th century 'European Occult Revival' which was infiltrated by the SYMBOLIST's-DECADENT's (perhaps the largest singular influence on the Surrealist's versatile agenda) who undertook the immense task of making ART THEIR OWN RELIGION by finding their individualized spiritual definitions in the magical world of Occultism.

Fulcanelli's 'Mystery of the Cathedrals' & 'Dwellings of the Philosophers'---of which de Givry's catalogue is a pictorial companion-piece---is the only other work(s) which so affected the Artistic Advanced Guards between the World Wars to an immeasurable degree and literally unlimited extent, especially those working in a non-literary medium.

For, the writers, both linear and poetic turned to the Occult Authors such as Eliphas Levi, or Paschal Beverly Randolph, or Paul Christian, and of course the Theosophical Madame, her big Russian self---and Steiner's Anthroposophist's...the list goes on & on.
But there is Nothing to compare too this pictorial archive as de Givry's assembled for the sheer bulk of their numbers and the high quality of the works he labored valiantly to include, reveling in the many mysteries abounding all over the European landscape, especially within the sculpture of the cathedrals from several historical era`s. Many criminally unknown (or just ignored) medieval & Renaissance Artist's that have somehow gotten buried by those ladies of T.S.'s still talking of Michelangelo are herein restored.

Occultist's/Occult Historians should find this book an immensely helpful anthology for use alongside such Classical scholars as the English dame Francis Amelia Yates' and D.P. Walker's works on the subject of Renaissance Hermeticism and both kinds of Magical professors. Or works dealing with any other era in European `Hidden History'.

All in all, this is a highly informative and absorbing compendium of a wide variety of works that would find a good home in so many differing disciplinarian's studios! Also, the translation by J. Courtenay Locke is excellent, as de Givry's prose is always insightful and has an down to earth romantic quality imbuing it as a whole, allowing for some rather fantastic humor which the translator has indeed caught well. The book is published by DOVER PRESS in photo-facsimile (the best mass Paperback Publishers still around when it comes to quality and unbeatable prices! It was originally pub. by Houghton Mifflin Co. in 1931) and it therefore has a whiff of ages about it which confers upon it an antiquated sense of thumbing through a tome from a far distant time, making it seem even more of a miracle such a unique Art Historical work as this is still so readily available in the early days of century number MMI.

Such an area of European Spiritual heritage has yet to be explored in any depth approaching the deeps which Grillot de Givry succeeds in delving to! As much as the Arts have a rich cultural heritage in Esotericism---so does Occultism have a long and flourishing tradition in the Arts; both are wondrous facets of a single fact this book documents well! I am surprised it is not more well-known?

If you like gazing at works with a very Gothique edge; with a definitely Sublime terror about their subject matter, and executed by the European continental likes of Goya, Bosch, Brueghel, Cranach, Rembrandt, Van Der Weyden, etc...to Paracelsus, Magnus, Barrett, Fludd, Kircher, etc... & all variety of Faustian caricatures and outtakes from innumerable incunabular texts of both Literary and Goetic/Theurgical origins...This is a visual Feast that will ravage your visions after you go to sleep just as much as you will frequent the hellish sights within its pages!

This book builds a bridge made to last, that many have already passed through...it should be a more frequented path in academia as well as independently trodden again, Amen!

Givry gives an excellent overview of certain areas of occult study and a unique perspective since he substantiates much of his observation with data gleaned from art images of the time periods involved. Quaint and entertaining, and the narrative is delivered with a sort of good-natured offhand manner that makes it quite enjoyable to read.

Many fascinating bits of information and illustrations make this an all-time favourite of mine.

this book is an excellent investment both beginners and the well studied in alchemy. it is full of historical pictures (100's of them)and paintings relating to alchemy and conveys just how important alchemy's dicovery was and is. there is a lot of ancient lore associted with sorcery and witchcraft so if you are into the sheer chemical compositions of physical alchemy, this may not be the choice for you. however, for those interested in great and rare artwork depicting alchemical scenes, unusual information on witchcraft (including death spells and love philtres) and history associated with alchemy, this is the book for you. i have yet to come across a better book of alchemical history. a must have for any alchemist, historian, or witch.
*** i do not condone nor promote the usuage of any of the information in this book relating to "death spells" or any other harmful magick.

Witchcraft, Magic & Alchemy, a great book of the basics. This collection of information gives a good foundation of witchcraft, magic, and yes, alchemy as well. Descriptions of the three sections are included in the work, as well as a semi-endepth look at the different parts, and what makes witchcraft, well, witchcraft. Try it out for atest drive, it'll answer most of your questions

This Dover reprint of de Givry's classic text contains all of the art work of the original, although all of it in B&W. It is a treasury for anyone interested in the history of art, as well as the presumed subject matter.

I found a used copy of this in the occult section of the Strand book store in New York City. The price was 6 dollars, and it was intriguing enough after reading only a few pages, that I decided it could be a very good investment. It turned out to work out very well.

The quantity and quality of illustrations in this book alone is enough reason to find a copy.

The writer has a sort of passion for what he is dealing with, and yet does not get at all wordy about it. Every paragraph is interesting, and it will only pull you into the next one.

The way the author uses so many illustrations throughout history to explain things about the occult does not seem so common with most authors. To some, parts may seem like a mere history lesson on the subject, but it becomes much more than that--you'll find that there are so many things to learn from this book, it's surprising how much information has been packed into it.

It's a very, very interesting read no matter what your intentions are when buying this book, or however they may change, I doubt you will regret purchasing it--we should be thankful it is still fairly easy and cheap to obtain.

I feel no need to present the obvious beneficial aspects of this book. They have been stated by many reviewers already. I agree that this book is an amazing piece of literature, and should be in any occult library. The myriad of information is astonishing, and the presentation is fantastic. However where my review differs is the comments on the pictures in this book. Yes, there are many amazing pictures, and yes, it really does help to have a visual representation and aid. Regardless, he puts way too much faith into the artists of the time periods. On page 55, he states "Even if all these works were lacking, however, it would be easy to reconstruct what passed at the assemblies of sorcerers from the numerous engravings which the artists of the period took such pains to leave for our benefit." I believe my problem with this statement is clear-just because an artist depicts something, doesn't mean it is factual. The artists, for the most part, were heavily influenced by the Christian dogma; therefore their art would reflect this, especially if it was commissioned by the Church. True, the art of a time period reflects the religion and the cultural rights and wrongs, but it also shows the fears and many times, the misconceptions. I am not trying to undermine any of the artwork, but I think my point is fair. Nevertheless, the book is great!