Image of A large figure, most likely representing Hermes Trismegistus; at his

A large figure, most likely representing Hermes Trismegistus; at his head, a scroll bearing an...

IMAGE number: BL3292641
Image title: A large figure, most likely representing Hermes Trismegistus; at his head, a scroll bearing an inscription ('Est lapis occultus secreto fonte sepultus; he is embracing a large, stoppered flask (the arms of which bear writing), which contains a black frog, feathers and tadpoles or droplets of liquid at the top, and eight roundels, seven of which are connected to a central roundel by gold bands, which represent stages in the alchemical process. Seven of the roundels depict figures conducting alchemical experiments involving a large flask containing homunculi atop a furnace; the eighth (detached) roundel contains a sun and moon, corresponding silver and gold figures (Adam and Eve beside the Tree of Knowledge, around which a serpent is entwined), and two figures dressed in red robes wielding tools. The central roundel depicts two men holding a large book, to which the connecting bands are attached. All of the roundels contain inscriptions around their borders. a title 'An Alkemye Scrowle, Drawne from an ancient Coppie, First invented by Bacon that great Clarke', followed by verses 'To the reader'. Further inscriptions, and verses on either side of the roll; between them, a flaming pillar ('Collorick') suspended among the upper branches of a tree ('spiritus', 'anima', and containing crescent moons); to either side of the branches, a sun and moon, each with feathers.
Location: British Library, London, UK

Image description: Alchemical rolls (The Ripley Scrolls) Author: Ripley, George / late 16th century. Source/Shelfmark: Add. 5025.(4) top of scroll.
Photo credit: From the British Library archive / Bridgeman Images
Image keywords: 16th century / astronomy / moon / celestial bodies / science / astronomical / eve / star / named people / alchemy / personalities / sciences / people / solar system / famous people / astronomical objects / manuscript / astronomical object / 16th century / document / astronomy / sun / natural sciences / adam

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	Dimension [pixels]	Dimension in 300dpi [mm]	File size [MB]
Large	4322 × 7216 px	366 × 611 mm	24.6 MB
Medium	614 × 1024 px	52 × 87 mm	803 KB

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