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Erotic engravings from the novel "La Nouvelle Justine ou Les Malheurs de la vertu", published in the Netherlands in 1797 CE. This novel was an extended version of the 1791 novel "Justine, ou Les Malheurs de la Vertu" by the French writer and nobleman Marquis de Sade

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Erotic engravings from the novel "La Nouvelle Justine ou Les Malheurs de la vertu", published in the Netherlands in 1797 CE. This novel was an extended version of the 1791 novel "Justine, ou Les Malheurs de la Vertu" by the French writer and nobleman Marquis de Sade

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An erotic illustration from "La Grande Danse macabre des vifs", made by the French illustrator Martin van Maële in 1905

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An erotic illustration from "La Grande Danse macabre des vifs", made by the French illustrator Martin van Maële in 1905

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The Sudarium of Saint Veronica is an engraving made by the French artist Claude Mellan in 1649 CE, created from a single spiralling unbroken line that starts at the tip of Jesus's nose. Claude Mellan's tour de force is one of the great achievements of printmaking

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The Sudarium of Saint Veronica is an engraving made by the French artist Claude Mellan in 1649 CE, created from a single spiralling unbroken line that starts at the tip of Jesus's nose. Claude Mellan's tour de force is one of the great achievements of printmaking

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"Ventôse" , stipple engraving by Salvatore Tresca after Louis Lafitte, 1792–1798

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"Ventôse" , stipple engraving by Salvatore Tresca after Louis Lafitte, 1792–1798

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The King's College Chapel, at the University of Cambridge, is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan vault. The Chapel was built in phases by a succession of kings of England from 1446 to 1515 CE

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The King's College Chapel, at the University of Cambridge, is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan vault. The Chapel was built in phases by a succession of kings of England from 1446 to 1515 CE

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This gold and enamel ring was made in Italy in the 17th-century. Diamonds are set in the skull’s eye sockets and nose, and in the crossbones. Memento mori rings – from the Latin ‘remember that you must die’ – were intended to remind the wearer of the brevity of life.

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This gold and enamel ring was made in Italy in the 17th-century. Diamonds are set in the skull’s eye sockets and nose, and in the crossbones. Memento mori rings – from the Latin ‘remember that you must die’ – were intended to remind the wearer of the brevity of life.

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Detail of a miniature of Nature forging a baby. F. 140r from Harley MS 4425, which is an exquisite copy of the French book Roman de la Rose. The copy, which was made for Count Engelbert of Nassau , is now housed at the British Library in London

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Detail of a miniature of Nature forging a baby. F. 140r from Harley MS 4425, which is an exquisite copy of the French book Roman de la Rose. The copy, which was made for Count Engelbert of Nassau , is now housed at the British Library in London

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Three-foot-long double-edged blade pulled from the Korte Linschoten River in the Netherlands dates to between A.D. 1050 and 1150. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, Netherlands.

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Three-foot-long double-edged blade pulled from the Korte Linschoten River in the Netherlands dates to between A.D. 1050 and 1150. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, Netherlands.

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This silver box with various writing utensils was made around 1560/1570 CE by Wenzel Jamnitzer, who was the best known German goldsmith of his era, and court goldsmith to a succession of Holy Roman Emperors. It is lavishly decorated with natural casts of small animals, shells and plants

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This silver box with various writing utensils was made around 1560/1570 CE by Wenzel Jamnitzer, who was the best known German goldsmith of his era, and court goldsmith to a succession of Holy Roman Emperors. It is lavishly decorated with natural casts of small animals, shells and plants

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A fragment of a Roman sardonyx cameo, depicting a man and a woman making love. 250-300 CE, now housed at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in the Netherlands

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A fragment of a Roman sardonyx cameo, depicting a man and a woman making love. 250-300 CE, now housed at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in the Netherlands

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Mantua and petticoat of French silk, brocaded with silver-gilt threads. Woven in France in 1753-1755 CE, and made in England in 1755-1760 CE. Now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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Mantua and petticoat of French silk, brocaded with silver-gilt threads. Woven in France in 1753-1755 CE, and made in England in 1755-1760 CE. Now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

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A Memento Mori carved in ivory. Very little is known about this piece, only that it was listed in the Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era, by Ormonde Maddock Dalton, in 1909 and was described as being European from the 17th century

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A Memento Mori carved in ivory. Very little is known about this piece, only that it was listed in the Catalogue of the Ivory Carvings of the Christian Era, by Ormonde Maddock Dalton, in 1909 and was described as being European from the 17th century

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Roman oil lamp with two holes for pouring liquids . The image of Jupiter and the eagle is visible on the object. The object was found in Domus Romana in Malta.

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Roman oil lamp with two holes for pouring liquids . The image of Jupiter and the eagle is visible on the object. The object was found in Domus Romana in Malta.

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"Vendémiaire" , stipple engraving by Salvatore Tresca after Louis Lafitte, 1797–1798

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"Vendémiaire" , stipple engraving by Salvatore Tresca after Louis Lafitte, 1797–1798

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