Arkivism
Basilisk
Public domain

Basilisk

Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt · 1596 - 1610 · pen; brush; paper; ink; pencil; watercolor (paint); chalk

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

The albums also feature some imaginary creatures, such as a sea monster and a small dragon. The latter was probably a forgery made from a ray and kept in Rudolf II's collection. This basilisk is a curious case: a lizard without forelegs. We do not know how De Boodt interpreted this animal. Is it a freak of nature, or a reference to a basilisk, a mythical snake-dragon?

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Subjects
drawinglizards: lizard
Credit lineBasilisk. 1596 - 1610. Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
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