Pyrotechnia

John Droeshout

National Gallery of Art

This is a cover page design for a book about pyrotechnics. The image features elements associated with pyrotechnic displays and mechanical devices. At the center is a title block announcing the book as "Pyrotechnia Or a Discourse of artificial Fireworks for Pleasure." Surrounding the text block are various illustrations: scenes of castles, knights, serpents, and a dragon entwined with fireworks or flames at the top, and mechanical devices in the corners and gaps, including a geared mechanism, a sundial, and other technical apparatuses. At the bottom center, there is a portrait of a man in period attire, likely the author, John Babington, with an inscription surrounding it.