Agrippa von Nettesheim, Henricus Cornelius | A skeptical view of the arts and sciences

Agrippa von Nettesheim, Henricus Cornelius

The Vanity of Arts and Sciences. London: Printed for R. E. for R. B. and are to be sold by C. Blount, 1684

8vo (178 x 108 mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait of Agrippa, title within double-ruled border, printer's ornaments, woodcut initials; very faint dampstaining along bottom margins of quires C, G–H, T, X–Y; tear on U2 touching last 6 lines of text. Contemporary mottled calf, spine in 6 compartments gilt, morocco lettering-piece, marbled edges; gilt and spine label faded, joints a tad rubbed, upper right corner of front free endpaper clipped.

Third edition in English of Agrippa's De incertitudine et vanitate scientarum. A biting commentary on all human sciences and arts and a fierce attack on the moral and social assumptions of his day. Agrippa treats—among other things—stage-dancing, alchemy, court ladies, medicine, lawyers, magic, fishing, grammar, looking glasses, the inquisition, witchcraft, and scholastic theology. He concludes with "A Digression in Praise of the Ass."

REFERENCE:

ESTC R9416; Wing A791