Chimica figurata

A collection of carefully executed water-colour drawings of symbolic alchemical illustrations, and of alchemical apparatus: including also portraits of Hermes, Geber, Aristotle, and two other unnamed 'Philosophers'. The Latin text gives a summary of alchemical doctrine in explanation of the illustrations: at the end are 'Versus universales' beginning: 'VIinum [sic] si summas [sic] cum solo corpore ponas' and ending (line 27): 'Versiculi scripta reserua philosophica dicta'. These are followed by 50 numbered alchemical Aphorisms, and some others. Finally, a further poem of 24 lines, beginning: 'Os et res nostros perficiat diuina Maestas', and ending: 'Sic uerbis scripti ficta referunt philosophorum dicta'.

Middle 17th century

1 volume 38 ll. (last 4 bl.). folio. 27 x 201/2 cm. Original boards.

Purchased 1936.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).