Hand-colored engraving from the "Chimie" section of Volume 3 of the Recueil de planches, sur les sciences, les arts libéraux, et les arts méchaniques, avec leur explication, which consisted of illustrated plates to accompany the volumes of text from the Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (Encyclopedia, or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts).

Representing chemistry, this plate depicts an allegorical image of the world supported by two male figures and a hydra. Above the globe, another male figure holds the sun while a female figure holds the moon. At the top are a king and queen with lion and eagle, respectively, and a phoenix in the clouds above. At the base of the pedestal is the text "PARADIGMA OPERIS PHILOSOPHICI, E. Libavio," likely a reference to Andreas Libavius (1555-1616), a German physician and chemist.