John Babington, Pyrotechnia

John Droeshout

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing featuring various mechanical devices and decorative illustrations. In the center, there is a text titled "PYROTECHNIA Or a Discourse of Artificiall Fireworks for Pleasure." Surrounding the text are sections depicting machines, gears, tools, a fortress, horses, and mythological creatures. At the bottom, there is a detailed portrait of a man within an ornate oval frame, showcasing traditional fashion of the time. The image conveys a sense of scientific exploration and creative artistry in mechanical pyrotechnics from an earlier era.