[ALCHEMY] THE GREATEST ILLUSTRATED WORK IN ALCHEMY. MAIER, MICHAEL. 1568–1622. Atalanta fu...

[ALCHEMY] THE GREATEST ILLUSTRATED WORK IN ALCHEMY. MAIER, MICHAEL. 1568–1622. Atalanta fugiens hoc est, Emblemata nova de secretis naturae chymica. Oppenheim: Hieronymus Galler for Johann Theodor de Bry, 1618. 8vo (190 x 148 mm). Engraved title page, engraved portrait of the author on p 11, 50 copper engraved allegorical plates showing chemical processes, by Mattheus Merian, each accompanied by a musical fugue, with final blank. Modern paper boards, manuscript title label. THE MOST CELEBRATED ILLUSTRATED WORK OF ALCHEMY, Maier's Atalanta Fugiens uses the classic myth of Atalanta as a basis for depicting the processes and stages of making the philosopher's stone. The work is comprised of 50 superb emblematic plates, each of which is accompanied by an epigrammatic verse, a musical fugue (canon) for 3 voices, and a prose explanation of the emblem's alchemical meaning. The title page stresses that Atalanta Fugiens activates all the senses and requires a contemplative effort to read, and these several components of image, music, and text are meant to work together as 'an interlocking guide to alchemical theory and to the production of the philosophers' stone' (Nummadal, 'Introduction,' for Project Atalanta at the Max Planck Institute). The highest level of hermetic intelligence and sensibility has gone into the production of this book. Written by the most highly regarded alchemical author of the period, the master adept Michael Maier, a principal exponent of what is now called 'hermetic mythology' or 'mythoalchemy.' Printed by Theodore De Bry, the most important Dutch publisher of illustrated books during the early 17th century, Atlanta Fugiens is illustrated with the engravings of Matthaeus Merian, the most celebrated engraver of the period, and the greatest alchemical illustrator of all time. The earliest multi-media text, Atlanta Fugiens is truly a 'pearl of great price' and a synesthetic delight to contemplate. REFERENCES: Duveen p 381 (attributing the engravings to De Bry); Ferguson II, p 62; Landwehr German 409; Wellcome I, 3980. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing