Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[MarcoP]

What should the viewer see, an alchemical process with known symbolism or bathing nymphs?

From what I understand, Rampling's view is that the balneological section cannot be traced to any known symbolism, but that it is likely allegorical. The bathing women are not meant to be literal bathing women, but symbols of something else. What this "something else" might be is of course an interesting subject. I am not aware of any specific theory interpreting the nymphs in the context of alchemy. I will see if I can find anything online.