Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[Barbrey]

@bi3mw It occurs to me that the baths are possibly processes as well. The line-up of plant parts in the pharmaceutical section feels like a structural association with the line-ups of nymphs. If we regard the nymphs as substances, as I do and keep insisting on, then we could possibly regard the nymphs in baths as plant parts (I think this might also be related to certain nymphs looking like they are part of plant structures in non-pool pages). 

Assuming this a true premise, then the actions and associations of the pool nymphs might give clues as to processes. For instance, in one pool they seem angry. Perhaps this represents boiling or agitation. In others, they resurrect, or multiply from pool to pool.  Sometimes, the pool outline could be giving us a hint. 

Now I know that mercury was ethyl alcohol usually in plant alchemy, and “sulphur” came from whatever plants you immersed in the alcohol, I’m starting to think almost all of the VMs is related, not just the balneological section. 

So that’s something to look at as well.

Yes, this view is possible. The different expressions of the nymphs are indeed there. I would say that this was the illustrator's intention and not incompetence. It would be worth checking whether the (facial) expressions can be grouped together or whether they are distributed differently across the folios.

The "poses" of the nymphs also seem worth mentioning. These seem limited and position-dependent.

Yes, indeed the poses. I agree!