A beautiful ‘Emblem Book’

One of my favourite books in out collection has little to do with hearing or deafness as far as I can see – Veridicus Christianus by Joanne or Jan David, published in 1601 in Antwerp.  It is a Jesuit ’emblem book’.  It has the most beautiful engravings, probably by a member of the Galle family, Theodoor or Cornelius .  The page here on the left is the reason we have it – there is a funnel that presumably is directing sound from (or to?) the man in the pulpit.

Here are some more illustrations… click onto the images for a slightly more demonic size.

Looking at it makes me feel like a character in the film The Ninth Gate!