Witchcraft, Magic & Alchemy by Émile-Jules Grillot de Givry

Description

Witchcraft, Magic & Alchemy is a book by Émile-Jules Grillot de Givry, first published in 1929. Originally conceived as a richly illustrated survey of Western occult traditions, the work brings together centuries of imagery and commentary on sorcery, ceremonial magic, and alchemical symbolism. Drawing from paintings, manuscripts, engravings, and early printed works, it presents a visual and historical exploration of how magical belief was expressed across Europe. Rather than focusing on spells or instruction, the book functions as both a historical guide and an iconographic archive. Its chapters examine folk witchcraft, learned magic, demonology, divination, talismans, and laboratory alchemy, explaining how these practices were understood and depicted from the medieval period through the early modern age. The extensive illustrations make it especially valuable for readers interested in authentic historical representations of occult practice. Grillot de Givry was a French scholar deeply engaged with the intellectual and esoteric circles of his time, and his approach reflects a balance between careful research and genuine sympathy for the subject matter. His writing avoids dry academicism, instead offering clear explanations that place magical traditions within their cultural and symbolic context, making the book accessible to general readers as well as serious students of occult history. Both a reference work and a source of inspiration, this volume is well suited to research, creative study, and digital reissue. It appeals to those exploring the history of witchcraft, the visual language of alchemy, and the enduring fascination with magic as a serious cultural and philosophical tradition rather than mere superstition.