Donna bilak italian academy for advanced studies columbia. Atalanta fugiens science history institute digital. This site presents an overview of the remarkable alchemical emblem book by michael maier, the atalanta fugiens based on the 1618 copy at the chemical. Michael maiers alchemical emblem book atalanta fugiens was first published in latin in 1617. It consists of 50 discourses with illustrations by matthias merian, each of which is accompanied by an epigrammatic verse, prose and a. Between 1614 and his death in 1622, maier published a number of alchemical works, of which atalanta fugiens was undoubtedly the richest and most important. Atalanta fugiens since 2014, les canards chantants has been part of an international, interdisciplinary team of scholars to study the 1617 alchemical musical treatise by michael maier, atalanta fugiens. Atalanta fugiens reinterprets ovids myth of atalanta as an alchemical allegory via a series of fifty emblems, each of which contains text, image, and a. Michael maier 1568 1622, german composer, physician. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. The latin text deepens what at first appears to be a simple enough image, and translates, make from the male and female a circle, then a square, then a triangle, and then a circle, and you will have the stone of the philosophers.
Aug 20, 2015 alchemical drawings by michel maier atalanta fugiens, 1618 national library of france stay safe and healthy. Sources of an alchemical book of emblems, york beach. Michael maier studied languages and rhetoric as well as medicine, namely from 1587 to 1591. It was a most amazing book as it incorporated 50 emblems with. Atalanta fugiens emblems 1 5 michael maiers alchemical emblem book atalanta fugiens was first published in latin in 1617. Michael maier atalanta fugiens, fuga xlvi fairy consort. Aug 21, 2010 an interesting fugue from the alchemic book atalanta fugiens by michael maier 1618, a canon cancrizans in the upper two voices written on a mirror tenor. Michael maier atalanta fugiens edizioni mediterranee prima edizione 1984 libro in ottime condizioni, minimi segni del tempo. Produced on the eve of the thirty years war that ravaged much of europe from 1618 to 1648, michael maiers alchemical emblem book, the atalanta fugiens is. It consists of 50 discourses with illustrations by matthias merian, each of which is accompanied by an epigrammatic verse, prose and a musical fugue. Symbols fire dragon sulphur grave alchemical plate from michael maier, atalanta fugiens, 1618.
On the eve of the thirty years war, the german alchemist and physician michael maier published atalanta fugiens 1618, a lavishly illustrated musical alchemical emblem book. Michael maier has 45 books on goodreads with 376 ratings. Aug 20, 2015 alchemical drawings by michel maier atalanta fugiens, 1618 national library of france. Greek mythology of the huntress atalanta the fagel. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
The book is a fascinating seventeenthcentury example of a multimedia work. Atalanta fugiens heres what we know about the author of the alchemical work we will discuss, michael maier. Michael maier project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Maier returned to germany in september 1616, settling in frankfurt am main. It was a most amazing book as it incorporated 50 emblems with epigrams and a discourse, but extended the concept of an emblem book by incorporating 50 pieces of music the fugues or canons. A digital edition of michael maiers atalanta fugiens with scholarly. Maier uses the myth of the beautiful young woman atalanta who, in order to avoid losing her own essence by being married to some unsuitable man. In atalanta fugiens is not the virgin to give birth, but she opens the male and extracts his soul.
He studied first in either rensburg or kiel, and in 1587 he was studying at the university of rostock. Non esitate a contattarci per altre foto o richieste. Michael maier atalanta fugiens prints on medieval alchemy now with one glance at first seeing alchemist michael maiers atalanta fugiens, i recognized quite a few of the genuine stages of spiritual transformation in this work, and knew that this was a real cultivation book unlike most of the other western alchemy works you usually find. Although they are one, they are also two, equaling by addition three they become the triangle and their multiplicity produces four, the square. Maier retools ovids legend of the fleetfooted virgin huntress atalanta, whom hippomenes hopes to best in a race by dropping three distracting golden apples in her path. Atalanta fugiens science history institute digital collections. Michael maier, atalanta fugiens 1618, alchemy music 50 pieces. Written by the german physician, courtier, and alchemist michael maier, atalanta fugiens 16178 offers its readers an alchemical interpretation of the classical myth of atalanta as a series of fifty emblems, each containing a motto, a copper plate engraving by the renowned matthaus merian, an epigram in german and latin, an accompanying fugue or canon for three voices, and a discourse. He was educated at the university of rostock in 1587, and later received his doctorate of medicine at basel. Michael maiers alchemical emblem book atalanta fugiens was first published in latin in. The parts of each emblem and the 214page quarto book as a whole are.
First published in 1617, michael maiers alchemical emblem book contains a preface. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Ludic humanism and michael maiers atalanta fugiens 1618. The square that surrounds it is intuitively constructed, but the triangle and larger circles position might seem arbitrary. It takes the form of an emblem book with fifty emblems, but with the added dimension of music. Michael maier author of michael maiers atalanta fugiens. The efms collection contains various printed works by or derived from maier, including a pristine copy of his musical alchemical emblem book, atalanta fugiens 1618, and two later works based on atalanta though published without the music, the secretioris naturae secretorum scrutinium chymicum 1687, and formerly owned by the berlin masonic.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Medieval rosicrucian alchemist michael maiers atalanta. Atalanta fugiens reinterprets ovids myth of atalanta as an alchemical allegory via a series of fifty. In his delightful hardcover quarto gettings includes three images of fourlegged fire lizards, including one from a 14 th century manuscript in the bodleian library, another from the title page of septem planet. Emblems in print and paint embassy of the free mind. Voir plus didees sur le theme empereur romain, alchimie et hermetisme. Books by michael maier author of michael maiers atalanta. The reconciliation of opposites through their mutual attraction brings man and woman together symbolizing the one thing, the dot or circle.
Between 1611 and 1616, maier spent time in england at the court of james i, and also served other german princes, particularly the prince of nassau, a great protector of alchemy. Although they are one, they are also two, equaling by addition three they become the. A digital edition of michael maiers atalanta fugiens 1618 with scholarly commentary brings to life in digital form a multimedia seventeenthcentury text, michael maiers lavishly illustrated musical emblem book. May 10, 2019 michael maiers alchemical emblem book atalanta fugiens was first published in latin in michael maiers atalanta fugiens. Loren ludwig has made the groundbreaking discovery that maier in fact did not write most of the music, but. An edition of the fugues, emblems, and epigrams by michael maier 1989. Michael maier atalanta fugiens emblem 02 stock photo. Brought in his belly, the child will then give birth to the stone. First published in 1617, michael maiers alchemical emblem book contains a preface on ancient music and the greek myth of atalanta and hippomenes and consists of 50 engraved emblems, each accompanied by a discourse and an epigram in verse set to music in the form of a fugue for three voicesatalanta, or the vox fugiens. Educated as a physician, michael maier was born at rendsburg, germany in 1568.
The book incorporated 50 emblems with a motto, an epigram and a discourse, but extended the concept of an emblem book by incorporating 50. Atalanta fugiens by michael maier 1618 usage public domain topics fugas. Maiers virtuoso program blends music, images, poetry, cabala, and science into a paean to wisdom achieved through alchemical arts, and bilaks analysis of this enigmatic work forms the premise of her book project, undertaken this year as an italian academy fellow, catch me if you can. His atalanta fugiens, an alchemical emblem book, was published in 1617. Maier and atalanta atalanta 101 atalanta fugiens 1618. Atalanta fugiens is an emblem book which was published in the 1610s in oppenheim. Atalanta fugiens michael maiers alchemical emblem book atalanta fugiens was first published in latin in 1617. Michael maier was a 17thcentury alchemist and physician to the court of emperor rudolf ii in prague. Alongside images, poems, and discussion, it included fifty pieces of music in the form of fugues, the form itself being a pun on atalanta fleeing. Michael maiers 1618 publication atalanta fugiens, in english atalanta fleeing. On the subject of music in atalanta fugiens, my music collaborator dr. The book incorporated 50 emblems with a motto, an epigram and a discourse, but extended the concept of an emblem book by incorporating 50 pieces of music, the fugues or canons.