Alchemy Theory

[Koen G]

When you see nymphs with pipes, check how often they appear to be blowing into them. This is generally overlooked. Don't know what that would mean for alchemy.

[nablator]

How many times did the distillate need to be redistilled to obtain the "quinta essentia"?

According to Rupescissa it's not how many that matters, it's the circular distillation process after the extraction of aqua ardens (ethanol) in 3, 7 or 10 distillations.

[nablator]

The term was used by the alchemist Johannes von Rupescissa in the 14th century, who believed that ethanol—a substance newly discovered at the time—was an imperishable and life-giving “fifth essence” or quintessence

The distillation process for the extraction of aqua ardens was known before Rupescissa (14th century) in the West from Marcus Graecus' Liber Ignium (dated 13th century).
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.

The discovery of ethanol may date to the 10th century (or long before that You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) : Al-Razi (Rhazes) then Ibn Sina (Avicenna).  Jabir Ibn Hayyan (Geber) already knew the alambic in the 8th century.

[bi3mw]

I should have expressed myself more precisely. “A substance newly discovered at the time” is, of course, not correct as stated. What I actually meant to say is that Rupescissa introduced the term “quintessence” and its corresponding meaning (a “supernatural” substance that sustains life).

[Linda]

When you see nymphs with pipes, check how often they appear to be blowing into them. This is generally overlooked. Don't know what that would mean for alchemy.

I don't see this, other than they have tiny dots for mouths which can look like they are pursing their lips for blowing, and in one or two cases there is something drawn near the mouth which could seem to be an interaction, but I don't really think so. But then, I don't think there is any alchemy involved, other than natural processes. (ie the elixir of life is water, it is water that gets you gold from stone, it is water that transforms into other substances when mixed with other items.)(ie I think it is about water). Can you give your best example of blowing?

[Koen G]

Can you give your best example of blowing?

Certainly!

   

[bi3mw]

Here's a similar example. I'm not sure if it shows a nymph blowin' or drinkin'.

   

[Linda]

Yes those were the two I was thinking of, but the former I think is water coming out of the tube, not the nymph blowing anything into the tube, and the latter confounds me somewhat, because I don't know what the extension of the top part of the tube is supposed to signify, or why it would go behind her face. Nothing goes to her lips. For me tubes are rivers, striped vertical tube would be multiple rivers rising, but again I see no real point behind this depiction, other than her stance which I associate with catastrophe, or a lack of history to explain what happenned.

[BessAgritianin]

Here's a similar example. I'm not sure if it shows a nymph blowin' or drinkin'.

I have been looking closely on figure f 77v  and I would like to offer a different interpretation:
She is not a lady breathing or drinking water. My suggetion is that this is a substance that is going on in transformation.
The action is not consumption but volatilization and emission.
I have fuller analysis on this, but I will not go in details here, since it diserves more serious representation, rather than a reply in a discussion.

[Koen G]

Notice on the figure I posted that an additional pen line indicates puffed up cheeks.