1710 Arithmetick

This interesting engraving comes from a rare folio book containing eighty full-page engraved illustrations. This encyclopedic work by Richard Blome was intended for the education and edification of the British country gentleman at the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment. The book itself consists of three parts, the first being an introduction to the liberal arts and sciences, in which the engraving offered here was included. The remainder of the book is dedicated to sporting and agriculture, staples of life for an aristocrat on his country estate, and addresses such topics as hunting, falconry, and fishing. An annotation in the upper left corner reads ‘To ye Worshipfull Gilbert Gerard Cossine of Brafferton Hall in north Rideing of Yorkshire Esq. and son & heyr of S Gilbert Gerard K and Baronet by Mary Daughter to ye Rt. Reverend father in God John Cossine late Ld Bishop of Durham. This plate is humbly D.D. by Ric. Blome’. Richard Blome was an active publisher of cartographic and illus