A new four dimensional memristive chaotic system is obtained by introducing a memristor into the Rucklidge chaotic system, and a detailed dynamic analysis of the system is performed. The sensitivity of the system to parameters allows it obtains 16 different attractors by changing only one parameter. The various transient behaviors and excellent spectral entropy and C0 complexity values of the system can also reflect the high complexity of the system. A circuit is designed and verified the feasibility of the system from the physical level. Finally, the system is applied to image encryption, and the security of the encryption system is analyzed from multiple aspects, providing a reference for the application of such memristive chaotic systems.