“Physica – Reptiles” by Alicia Bailey

2020
Mixed media artists book
6″ x 3.75″ x 3.875″

From a series of 9 artists’ book works, each focusing on one of the 9 sections in Hildegard von Bingen’s Physica, as translated from Latin to English by Priscilla Throop. This rigid page book has covers and text pages of thick oak, bound with straps across the spine. On each page is mounted an oil painting of a reptile, with text panels mounted below. Both paintings and text are overlaid with mica. The designation of ‘reptile’ was different in medieval times. This work features a slowworm, toad, frog, baselisk, viper, spider, and scorpion. The cover has a recessed magnifying lens, behind which float rattlesnake rib bones.