Emblematic alchemy, with the Visio mystica of Arnold of Villanova
Found In:
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library > Emblematic alchemy, with the Visio mystica of Arnold of Villanova
10269803
Description
- Title
- Emblematic alchemy, with the Visio mystica of Arnold of Villanova
- Alternative Title
- Ripley Scroll
- Creator
- Ripley, George, d. 1490?
- Contributor
-
Arnaldus, de Villanova, -1311.
Carpenter, Richard, 1575-1627. - Published / Created
- [ca. 1570]
- Publication Place
- England
- Abstract
-
Manuscript on paper roll of George Ripley (?), Alchemy, in English verse, with additional verses attributed to Richard Carpenter. With Arnold of Villanova, Visio mystica, anonymously translated into English
- Description
-
In English.
Watermark: coat of arms (a bend) surmounted by a large fleur-de-lys, the type of Briquet 995 and Heawood 58-118, but not identical with any of these.
Script: Written by an accomplished secretary hand using various forms and sizes of letter, some headings in roman capitals in epigraphic style.
Large drawings in ink and watercolor. One large and fine drawing of an alchemist who holds a vessel, in which are eight roundels with brief Latin inscriptions and containing drawings symbolizing alchemical processes, all joined together by chain-links and surrounding a larger roundel to which they are connected by chains emanating from the bosses of a large book in the central roundel, the book being held by two individuals, the one on the left in monk's dress, the one on the right in richer (kingly?) garb. A toad, feathers, and drops of blood arise from the vessel. Another drawing of a tree growing from a well, its leafy top extending upward into the text, its leaves with the legend "Spiritus Anima"; against the tree trunk are a female anthropomorphic figure with the toes of a toad, labeled "Spiritus", and below, a male child labeled "Anima"; vines with grapes twine around the tree trunk, and two nude human figures, male and female, standing in the water grasp the vines and eat the grapes. Around the well are seven towers, in each of which is a robed alchemist holding a flask; the towers have the legend "Prima (-Septima) Imbibissio". In a third large drawing, the sun breaks through clouds and droplets of water fall on an anthropomorphic, crowned human-headed bird (the Phoenix?) which reposes on a brownish ball with a pattern of waves (the sea, as the verses below state); feathers surround the ball. Below is a sort of sunburst with a sphere at center inside of which are three smaller spheres, red, blue, and gray, linked together by chains. Below this is a triple crescent moon of the same colors, with the inscription "Luna cressens" (sic). Below, the snout of a very large dragon intrudes on (bites?) the crescent moon; the dragon is flanked by the legend at the foot of f. 11: The Serpent of Arrabia. The dragon occupies all of f. 12 and reposes on an orb divided into three parts onto which its blood drips. At left of the final folio, there is an excellent drawing of a man, his mouth agape, his left hand raised in a gesture of astonishment. He appears to be dressed in humble attire; he carries a bag over his shoulder, and a sack over his right arm; under the same arm is a curious pole with a shod horse's hoof at one end, a scroll at the pointed upper end, a portion of the scroll streaming out behind him.
Paper roll consisted originally of thirteen folio sheets and half-sheets of differing lengths glued together, averaging 540 mm. in width (lateral margins and broad bordering line in black ink partly trimmed away); now cut into thirteen sections measuring about 435 x 540 each, except for the last which measures 625 x 540, each of the sections glued down to a linen backing and the whole folded in-leporello.
Binding: Modern brown suede leather, back and corners of brown niger, gold rules setting off the two leathers on each cover, the upper cover with title lettered in gold, "ASTROLOGICAL SCROLL", probably English, early 20th century. - Provenance
- Mellon MS 160, acquired from H. P. Kraus, Inc. (bookseller), New York. Gift of Paul and Mary Mellon, 1965.
- Extent
- ff. 13 : 5,855 x 540 mm.
- Extent of Digitization
- This object has been completely digitized.
- Language
-
English
Collection Information
- Repository
- Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Call Number
- Mellon MS 41
- Related Resource Online
- View a detailed description.
Subjects, Formats, And Genres
- Genre
-
Early works to 1800
Manuscripts, Renaissance England 16th century
Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library - Material
- paper ;
- Resource Type
- unspecified
- Subject (Geographic)
-
Connecticut
New Haven. - Subject (Name)
- Ripley, George, d. 1490?
- Subject (Topic)
-
Alchemy
English poetry
Illumination of books and manuscripts, English
Manuscripts, Medieval - Subjects
-
Ripley, George, d. 1490?
Alchemy > Early works to 1800
English poetry > Early modern, 1500-1700
Illumination of books and manuscripts, English
Manuscripts, Medieval > Connecticut > New Haven
England > 16th century
Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Beinecke Library
Mellon, Paul > Ownership
Access And Usage Rights
- Access
- Public
- Rights
- The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
- Citation
- George Ripley and Richard Carpenter, Emblematic Alchemy, with the Visio Mystica of Arnold of Villanova. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.
Identifiers
- Orbis Record
- 9879666
- Object ID (OID)
- 10269803
Manifest Link
