This guy caught my eye on the Old Book Illustrations website pretty early on in the project.

I wasn’t sure at that point what part he would play, but I knew he would appear in my 100 Day Project.

This morning I thought of a perfect setting for him (and his mates) and went about creating this image this afternoon.

It wasn’t until I’d finalised the image that I read the description of Buer:

‘Depiction of Buer, described as a second-class demon and president of hell. He teaches philosophy, logic and the properties of medicinal plants. He claims to provide good servants and cure the sick. He has fifty legions under his command.’

I LOL’ed at the description when I read it. Because yesterday I became caught up in trying to discourage friends on social media from sharing conspiracy theories and misinformation about the Covid-19 pandemic, and to instead take a course in critical thinking.

I feel like Buer would have been a handy friend to have around yesterday.

He’s depicted in the Dictionaire Infernal, a wood engraving by Louis Le Breton.

The landscape I’ve set him against was taken by me in Oxford just over four years ago and now seems even more appropriate for such a learned fellow.

I’m kind of confused about why he was deemed a demon, but my atheist self has some ideas...

Illustrations:

Buer by Louis Le Breton from Dictionnaire Infernal