Splendor Solis

This copy of Splendor Solis (‘Splendour of the Sun’) is one of the most beautiful alchemical manuscripts. Made in Germany in 1582, its text is accompanied by a series of elaborate illustrations. This page depicts an alchemist holding a flask, from which unfurls a scroll saying, in Latin, ‘Let us ask the four elements of nature’. The authorship of Splendor Solis is unknown, but it has often been attributed in error to Salomon Trismosin, who claimed to have made the Philosopher’s Stone. Shown here: ff. 3v–4r