A three headed monster in an alchemical flask, representing the composition of the alchemical philosopher's stone: salt, sulphur, and mercury. Watercolour painting by E.A. Ibbs.
- Ibbs, Edith A.
- Date:
- 1900-1909
- Reference:
- 38824i
- Part of:
- Splendor solis
- Pictures
- Online
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Also known as
Previous title, replaced June 2023 : A three headed monster in an alchemical flask, representing the composition of the alchemical philosopher's stone: salt, sulphur, and mercury. Watercolour painting.
Description
Lennep identifies the beast as Cerberus, while he notes that Hartlaub calls it a lion. The three colours here (white, red and black) are the colours through which the philosopher's stone passes in the process of transmutation
Publication/Creation
1900-1909
Physical description
1 painting : watercolour ; image 40.6 x 19.6 cm.
Series
Contributors
Creator/production credits
Painted by Edith Annie Ibbs (1863-1937) on commission from the secretary of the Historical Medical Exhibition organized by Henry S. Wellcome (C.J.S. Thompson), ca. 1907, and subsequently exhibited in the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London
References note
For detailed information on this series, cf. J. van Lennep, L'alchimie, Brussels 1984, pp. 110-129
This image is one of a sub-series in the 'Splendor solis', showing crowned alchemical flasks containing symbols of the various stages of the Great Work. In the original manuscript, scenes of symbolically relevant activities in village life are shown outside the image, along with an astronomical sign at the top
Reference
Wellcome Collection 38824i
Reproduction note
After: Salomon Trismosin, Splendor solis, 1582, British Library, Harley ms. 3469
Type/Technique
Where to find it
Location Status Access Closed stores