SPLENDOR SOLIS (1553)
by Salomon Trismosin
Splendor Solis is an alchemical treatise written by Salomon Trismosin––alchemical teacher of Paracelsus. The earliest known version is from 1532. Splendor Solis is a handmade illuminated manuscript of discourses on alchemical processes with accompanying paintings. Several versions were created throughout the 1500’s, each containing hand painted ‘plates’ which provide an additional point of reflection for the reader. Minor variations exist between versions––often only in the faces or ornaments––these are held in multiple museums throughout Europe. The gallery below features the paintings from the version of Splendor Solis in the British Library’s collection.
PLATE 1:
The Arms of the Art
PLATE 2:
The Philosopher and His Flask
PLATE 3:
The Knight of the Double Fountain
PLATE 4:
The Lunar Queen and the Solar King
PLATE 5:
Mining the Ore
PLATE 6:
The Alchemical Tree with Golden Boughs
PLATE 7:
The Drowning King
PLATE 8:
The Angel and the Dark Man in the Swamp
PLATE 9:
The Hermaphrodite
PLATE 10:
The Dismembered Body with a Golden Head
PLATE 11:
The Boiling Philosopher Rejuvenated
PLATE 12:
Feeding the Dragon (Saturn Above)
PLATE 13:
The Three Birds (Jupiter Above)
PLATE 14:
The Triple Headed Eagle (Mars Above)
PLATE 15:
The Three Headed Dragon (Sun Above)
PLATE 16:
The Peacock (Venus Above)
PLATE 17:
The Lunar Queen (Mercury Above)
PLATE 18:
The Red King (Moon Above)
PLATE 19:
The Darkness of the Putrefied Sun
PLATE 20:
Child’s Play
PLATE 21:
Women’s Work
PLATE 22:
The Red Sun
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