Devils, Demons, and Witchcraft: 244 Illustrations for Artists

by Ernst Lehner (Compiler), Johanna Lehner (Compiler)

"Throughout history, artists have grappled with the problem of depicting clearly and forcefully the principles of evil and suffering in human existence." With this view, the Lehners have collected 244 representations, symbols, and manuscript pages of devils and death from Egyptian times to 1931. Reproductions from Dürer, Holbein, Cranach, Rembrandt, and many other lesser-known or unknown artists illustrate the fascinating history. The fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries are stressed.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each with a separate introduction. Most of the illustrations are collected in five of these chapters: Devils and Demons, including Belial, Beelzebub, and the Anti-Christ; Witches and Warlocks, their animals, forms, and rituals; The Danse Macabre, with the Dance of Death Alphabet by Holbein and representations of all classes leveled by the common force of death; Memento Mori, including a skull clock, a macabre representation of the Tree of Knowledge and Death, and the winged hourglass and scythe; and Religio-Political Devilry, the fight between the Papists and the Reformers, and symbols of devils in other political disputes. There are also chapters on the Fall of Lucifer, Faust and Mephistopheles, Hell and Damnation, The Apocalyptic Horsemen, Witch-Hunting, The Art of Dying, and Resurrection and Reckoning.
Anyone curious about witchcraft, death, and devils will be interested in this book. It is particularly useful to teachers, artists, and illustrators who need clear reproductions for the classroom, for models, or for commercial uses. Death, devils, and their history are very much with us today.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Religion, Reference, Occult, Paranormal, Gothic

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great display of ancient and medieval art of devils, demons, and witchcraft. The areas where the artworks came from ancient Egyptian/Mesopotamian/Greek religious pieces but mostly European artists from the 1400s through the 1800s. The chapters were divided into different topics that included devils and demons, Faust and Mephistopheles, hell and damnation, witches and warlocks, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, witch-hunting, Ars Moriendi (The Art of Dying), Danse Macabre (The Dance of Death), Memento Mori (Remember That You Must Die), Resurrection and Reckoning, and and art to combat religio-political devilry (gambling, gossip, alcohol, etc.).

Some art pieces that stood out to me were:
Sorcerers exchanging the Gospels for a book of black magic, Compendium Maleficarum, 1626

Witches Brewing a Hailstorm by Ulrich Molitor, 1489

Hanging a farm woman declared by the Inquisition to be possessed by demons, Italy, 1520


This was a really neat book in my opinion and really shows the witchcraft hysteria that cost the lives of so many people. I would recommend this anyone who collects witchcraft or occult books. Thanks!

[Graham P · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an affordable collection of demonic imagery from the middle centuries, you can't go wrong with this Dover edition. You get dancing skeletons, flatulent demons, cannibalism, all the vices known to humankind, memento mori emblems, and obscene woodcuts from all over Europe. I used this book for research, and it does pull you back in time when there was more darkness than light, and when our collective wisdom was heavily burdened by brimstone. Essential art book.

[Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon } · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to review at a later stage, when I'm not so disappointed, and clouded by expectations...

[Mary Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely pictures but little critical thought in the writing

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book which is mostly of pictures. They cover the period of the mid to late middle ages and have a couple from a later period. The pictures give a view of how witches, demons and the devil were viewed in the texts of that time. Nice to have and look through at odd times when the mood strikes you.

[Adi · Rating 3 out of 5]

recommended to read it alone in the dark room + doom/gothic metal on stereos.

[Tommie Haag · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://www.tomfury.se/wordpress/2012/...

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, mostly illustrative history of devils, demons, and witchcraft in the middle ages. Exactly as described.

[Kristin Myrtle]

this was the book used in paranormal activity

[Marvin Dupree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have more information on some manuscripts or illuminations in some instances.

[davidkoenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devils Demons and witchcraft.

This is a awesome book on devils demons and witchcraft if you are into the occult you should get this book it is very cheap

[Sabbatha Bastet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful and inspiring for dark artists.