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Some woodcuts from “A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs Be Your Gods” by John Ray, 1737. John Ray was a clergyman and a biologist and naturalist; he was born on the 29th day of June, 1628, and named John Wray; he changed his name to Ray when he was 42. He died in 1705.
Title: A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs
Published by: J. Hughs
City: London
Date: 1737
Total items: 14
Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.
![[picture: Detail: engraved heart]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Ray-Proverbs/wm/big/025-detail-heart-q75-177x200.jpg "[picture: Detail: engraved heart]")
![[picture: Chapter end decoration: cherubs]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Ray-Proverbs/wm/big/041-chapter-end-cherubs-q75-267x200.jpg "[picture: Chapter end decoration: cherubs]")
Chapter end decoration: cherubs
Two cherubs (naked, winged children) sit amongst ornate rococo foliage, apparently discoursing. This decoration was used to fill space at the end of a chapter, and to show that the text had ended. [more...]
[$]![[picture: Detail: burning heart]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Ray-Proverbs/wm/big/025-detail-flaming-heart-q75-180x200.jpg "[picture: Detail: burning heart]")
A bad case of heartburn or a romantic metaphor? This heart on a pillar with flames coming out of it is a detail from a chapter head. I also made the heart is also a available by itself, without the flames or ornate pedastal or halo. [more...]
[$]![[picture: Chapter Heading woodcut featuring a flaming heart]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Ray-Proverbs/wm/big/025-chapter-heading-heart-q75-543x200.jpg "[picture: Chapter Heading woodcut featuring a flaming heart]")
Chapter Heading woodcut featuring a flaming heart
This decorative woodcut was used at the top of the first page of a chapter or section, as a decorative element. It features a heart on a pillar; there are flames bursting out of the [...] [more...]
[$]![[picture: Initial Letter T With Angels and Devil]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Ray-Proverbs/wm/big/320-013-letter-t-q70-203x200.jpg "[picture: Initial Letter T With Angels and Devil]")
Initial Letter T With Angels and Devil
The two winged creatures in this decorative initial letter T are very definitely female and probably intended to be naked. They seem to have fish’s tails rather than legs and feet, so maybe they are Angels of Mermaids? Or just winged mermaids? Or they might be intended to be emenating from the ears of the face below, and be regular angels. The horned [...] [more...]
[$]Some woodcuts from “A Compleat Collection of English Proverbs Be Your Gods” by John Ray, 1737. John Ray was a clergyman and a biologist and naturalist; he was born on the 29th day of June, 1628, and named John Wray; he changed his name to Ray when he was 42. He died in 1705.
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