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Pretiosissimum Donum DeiThis famous work has a series of flasks in which the evolution of the white and red stones is described. It first appears in the 15th century and is sometimes ascribed to George Aurach and dated 1475. I have been able to find over 60 manuscripts of this work. There are 12 (or sometimes 13) small watercoloured drawings in the original Latin text. These descriptions are made from MS Ferguson 222.Back to descriptions of sequences . Back to symbolism page . Figure 1. The heads of a King and Queen on the left and right respectively face towards a flask in the centre. This flask contains a green liquid and five flowers grow out of its neck. Around the heads are set circular banners bearing text. A text above states "Medicina mea solum composita". Figure 2. The naked King and Queen are now seen within the flask standing on a green liquid. Out of the neck of the flask grow three white flowers. The text around the flask is "Eamus quesitum quatuor ellementorum naturas quas de ventre terrae fornace adducent." Figure 3. The King and Queen are seen coupling on the surface of a blue liquid in the flask. There are 4 black globes set in a square around them. From the neck of the flask a spray of flowers is seen. The text around the flask is "Ex quatuor ellementis iste lapis compositus est". Figure 4. The coupling King and Queen are now sunk down into the layer of liquid which is now turned black, and there has separated off two lighter layers which float on top of the black layer. At the open neck of the flask a greyish crow perches with its wings outstretched. The text around the flask is "Caput Corvi similiter est necessarium. Putrefactio Philosophorum. Nigredo Transparens". Figure 5. The flask is shown with a black layer of liquid and another clear layer on top, but the King and Queen are no longer to be seen. From the neck of the flask emerge three birds. The text around the flask is "Caput Corvi vestis tenebrosa". Figure 6. Within a black layer at the bottom of the flask a naked man stands with various serpents within the liquid. From the neck of the flask two birds emerge on top of which stands a green dragon tinged with red. The text is "Caput corvi". Figure 7. The flask now bears only a black liquid. Above at the neck of the flask are seen three winged forms - A winged star in the middle between a winged Sun and winged Moon. The text is "Olleum Philosophorum". Figure 8. Now the black layer in the flask has floating upon it a more transparent layer. Standing in the centre is the green dragon tinged with red which we saw in figure 6. There are no symbols at the open neck of the flask. The text is "Sulphur Philosophorum". Figure 9. The black layer on the flask has split into two - a mottled grey layer sunk further down to the bottom, while the bulk of the flask is filled with a transparent liquid. Drops of liquid are seen in the upper neck region of the flask. At the open neck a white bird stands holding a green branch in its beak. The text has "Sulphur philosophorum Domus tenebrosa". Figure 10. Within the flask the mottled gray liquid has risen to half fill it. In this we see the head of a green dragon its tongue tinged with red. At the neck of the flask stands a peacock, its tail displayed, while to its left and right two white birds try to fly into the flask, their necks being within the neck. The text has "Cinis Cinerum". Figure 11. We return to the same form as the first figure, a flask set in the middle of two banners of text. Within the flask is a moon disc bearing a crown. While around the neck of the flask are five stars. The text above states "Rosa Alba". Figure 12. Again we have the flask set within two banners of text, however now they have unrolled somewhat. Within the flask is the head of a crowned king, and the text above states "Rosa Rubea". |