12-29-2023, 03:10 PM
Page from the Czech edition of the Rosarium Philosophorum illustrated by Jaroš Griemiller, c. 1578
This illustrated alchemistic manuscript was written by Jaroš Griemiller z Trebska in 1578. It demonstrates the high level of alchemy that existed in Bohemia even before the transfer of the court of the emperor Rudolf II to Prague. It is a Czech translation of the medieval alchemic tract 'Rosarium philosophorum', made by Jaroš Griemiller, who was probably a relative of the country hallmark officer Pavel Griemiller z Trebska (+ 1593). He seemed to be inspired by his friend, the astronomer and alchemist Bavor ml. Rodovský z Hustiran (c. 1526-1592). His work was dedicated to a great benefactor of alchemic research, Vilém z Rožmberka (1535-1592). This Griemiller's autograph is rich in decoration and it has a representative golden leather binding. As such, it could be a volume made directly for the Rožmberk library.
The ornamentation of the book is interesting not only thanks to the original alchemic iconography, but also thanks to its high artistic value that was not common for all alchemic manuscripts. A greater part of the 23 illustrations were probably created by one of the Rožmberk court painters, while Griemiller himself made perhaps only a few of them. From the iconographic point of view, the most distinct works are two miniatures on ff. 183v-184r. On the left side, there is a naked man with wings, standing on the moon and blowing a trumpet: he is raising the sun and the moon - which he has beheaded earlier with an axe - from the dead. It is an alchemic symbol of killing and resuscitation of the substance of the Great Work. On the opposite side, a naked queen is standing on two knolls from which two streamlets are running, while on the right side the sun has risen in the sky and on the left side the moon. This is an alchemic symbol of the two fundamental roots. The queen is holding burning torches and from her head a tree is growing with both arriving and departing birds that symbolize the central axis of alchemic art.
https://mun-sal-vache.tumblr.com/post/13...losophorum
This illustrated alchemistic manuscript was written by Jaroš Griemiller z Trebska in 1578. It demonstrates the high level of alchemy that existed in Bohemia even before the transfer of the court of the emperor Rudolf II to Prague. It is a Czech translation of the medieval alchemic tract 'Rosarium philosophorum', made by Jaroš Griemiller, who was probably a relative of the country hallmark officer Pavel Griemiller z Trebska (+ 1593). He seemed to be inspired by his friend, the astronomer and alchemist Bavor ml. Rodovský z Hustiran (c. 1526-1592). His work was dedicated to a great benefactor of alchemic research, Vilém z Rožmberka (1535-1592). This Griemiller's autograph is rich in decoration and it has a representative golden leather binding. As such, it could be a volume made directly for the Rožmberk library.
The ornamentation of the book is interesting not only thanks to the original alchemic iconography, but also thanks to its high artistic value that was not common for all alchemic manuscripts. A greater part of the 23 illustrations were probably created by one of the Rožmberk court painters, while Griemiller himself made perhaps only a few of them. From the iconographic point of view, the most distinct works are two miniatures on ff. 183v-184r. On the left side, there is a naked man with wings, standing on the moon and blowing a trumpet: he is raising the sun and the moon - which he has beheaded earlier with an axe - from the dead. It is an alchemic symbol of killing and resuscitation of the substance of the Great Work. On the opposite side, a naked queen is standing on two knolls from which two streamlets are running, while on the right side the sun has risen in the sky and on the left side the moon. This is an alchemic symbol of the two fundamental roots. The queen is holding burning torches and from her head a tree is growing with both arriving and departing birds that symbolize the central axis of alchemic art.
https://mun-sal-vache.tumblr.com/post/13...losophorum