Alchemy

1. In the 16th and 17th Century alchemy underwent a revival in Europe 2. The basic idea was to turn base metal into gold.
3. There was a desire that through this art society could be perfected. 4. The belief is that a magician or magus controls the universe.

The Alchemist by Thomas Wyck

The Alchemist 1663 - Cornelis Bega 1. This was accompanied by charts charms symbols through which the underworld could be reached. 2. Basically dabbling into the occult and esotericism

Pieter Brueghel the Elder. The Alchemist. 1558.

The Enlightenment The age of Enlightenment 1. European aristocrats European aristocrats transferred their lighted transferred their altars candles from Christianlighted candles from Christian altars to Masonic lodges 2. The flame to Masonic lodges. of occult Alchemists The flame of occult 3. Had promised to turn base alchemists, which had metal into gold promised to turn dross into 4. gold, reappeared at of human Became the centre the center endeavour of new "circles" seeking to 5. Seeking to recreate a Golden recreate a golden age: age 6. Through esoteric secretes long lost 7. And Scientific endeavour

 Fire in the Mids of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary Faith James H. Bilington Takes its name from Dostoevsky's The Possessed Investigates the passion for revolutionary change which developed strongly in Central Europe and Russia starting with the French Revolution of 1789. Does not focus on events and social causes leading to popular uprisings. Follows a thread of occult societies all having the common genesis in the motto of the French Revolution: "Libert, galit, fraternit". He describes how the idea of brotherhood was inherited from secret and occult societies such as the freemasons became an inflammatory idea which led to the Paris Commune but then was extinguished as far as popular revolutions went (until it resurfaced as national socialism in 1920s' Germany). Instead the idea of egality would become the fuel for socialism and communism. These two social power factions being founded by the two thinkers Proudhon and Marx. Proudhon being the social and secularist republican (anti-monarchist) individualist and Marx the socialist anarchist (communism) collectivist.

James H. Billington
James Hadley Billington (born June 1, 1929) is an American academic. He is the thirteenth Librarian of the United States Congress.

Designed in 1782 and printed on the back of the United States one-dollar bill since 1935. Neo Platonic Christianity read Virgil's poem as a prophecy of the coming of Christ. The Augustan Age, although pre-Christian, was viewed as a golden age preparing the world for the coming of Christ. The great poets of this age were viewed as a source of revelation and light upon the Christian mysteries to come. the motto Novus ordo seclorum can be translated as "A new order of the ages to signify "the beginning of the new American Era" as of the date of the Declaration of Independence.

 The phrases Dawn of a New Day and Sun Rising in the East have several symbolic meanings but probably the most important are their symbolic interpretations pertaining to occult Freemasonry. Most notably the Sun Rising in the East is personified by the Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge who always sits in the east representing the rising sun of light and wisdom in a world filled with darkness. The Dawn of a New Day represents Freemasonry's ultimate goal to unite the world under one brotherhood of man. In Masonic Orders of Fraternity by Manly P. Hall, he describes how a World Fraternity comprised of the sons of tomorrow would form The Invisible
In 1919, a Canadian teenager with a sixth-grade education arrived by train to the wilds of Los Angeles. Within a decade he had transformed himself into a world-renowned luminary and occult scholar. His name was Manly Palmer Hall, author of the landmark encyclopedia The Secret Teachings of All Ages and the 20th centurys most prolific writer and speaker on ancient philosophies, mysticism, and magic. Hall revealed to thousands how universal wisdom could be found in the myths and symbols of the ancient Western mystery teachings. He amassed the largest occult library west of the Mississippi and founded The Philosophical Research Society in 1934 for the purpose of providing seekers rare access to the worlds wisdom literature. He became a confidante and friend to celebrities and politicians. In 1990, he diedsome say he was killedin what remains an open-ended Hollywood murder mystery. This dramatic story of Halls life and death provides a panorama of twentieth century mysticism and an insiders view into a subculture that continues to have a profound influence on movies, television, music, books, art, and thought.

Scientists of 17-18 Centuries were steeped in Alchemy magic chemistry and the occult
Goethe Archetype illuminati

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

English name of Goethe's poem Der Zauberlehrling

A brilliant mind delving into many new areas of scientific research such as his treatise on Newtons theories of colour These remain a benchmark in progressive scientific development

De La Croix the painter deeply affected by Goethes writings.

Goethe regarded his Faust as an opus magnum or divinum. He called it his 'main business,' and his whole life was enacted within the framework of this drama. Thus, what was alive and active within him was a living substance, a super personal process, the great dream of the mundus archetypus (archetypal world).

Faust (Latin Faustus)

Is the protagonist of a popular German tale of a pact with the Devil, assumed to be based on the figure of the German magician and alchemist Dr. Johann George There are varied and many different accounts of a Faust character the story that people of today are most familiar with is the version by Goethe based on a previous play by Christopher Marlow Faust originated in northern Germany, committed to print in 1587 with the publishing of a little chapbook bearing the title Historia von D. Iohan Fausten. Its Anti Catholic sympathies fuelled the reformation troubles This story found its way to England where it was translated into Englishin 1592 as The Historie of the Damnable Life, and Deserved Death of Doctor Iohn Faustus. It was this work that Christopher Marlowe used for his somewhat more ambitious play, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (published c. 1600). Another possible inspiration of Marlowe's version is John Dee (1527-1609), who practised forms of alchemy and science and developed Enochian magic. Along with Jacob Bidermann's Cenodoxus (published c. 1602), Marlowe's version served to inspire Goethe's later Faust, which may be considered the more definitive classic work.

Synopsis of Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

An old scholar, Faust is dissatisfied and yearns to comprehend not just all knowledge, but all experience. In such a quest, Faust makes a bargain with a nihilistic spirit named Mephistopheles.
The pact provides for the loss of Faust's soul in the event that Mephistopheles should provide him with any sensuous experience to his liking. Among the temptations offered by Mephistopheles is a young girl by the name of Margaret (Gretchen), whom Faust seduces and abandons, indirectly causing her death and that of the child they conceived together. In Part II, Faust continues his association with Mephistopheles and, among other adventures, has a love affair with Helen of Troy and fathers a son with her. Later, still with the aid of Mephistopheles, Faust reclaims lands from the sea which he intends to turn into a paradise on earth -his legacy to humankind.

Happy with his efforts and a vision of the future, Faust is caught in a moment of satisfaction which Mephistopheles claims as his victory.
At the last moment, however, God's angels save Faust and bear his soul to heaven where he is reunited with Gretchen and appointed as teacher of the blessed.

The Advent of Landscape in Art Before this time it was a view through a window or a distant view beyond the main human subject. In Europe the landscape starts to become more integrated and becomes a vast stage in which the drama unfolds It culminates in the work of Pieter Bruegel the elder

Joachin Patinir 1480-1525 Charon crossing the river Styx In this painting he shows us an essentially medieval view of the world He uses landscape in a new way he was possibly influenced by Albrecht Durer.

The River Styx In Greek mythology, Styx () is the name of a river which formed the boundary between earth and the underworld, Hades. It circles Hades nine times. Styx and Phlegethon, Acheron and Cocytus converge at the center of Hades on a great marsh. The other important rivers of Hades are Lethe and Eridanos. The ferryman Charon is in modern times commonly believed to have transported the souls of the newly dead across this river into the underworld. Actually The newly-dead would be ferried across the Acheron by Charon in order to enter the Underworld.

 Styx is guarded by Phlegyas, who passes the souls from one side to another of the river. In other versions, Phlegyas guards Phlegethon, another of the main rivers of Hades. is also the name of a primordial goddess who represented that river, and was the only female river. Pierre Subleyras, 1735

Etching by Gustave Dor, 1861Styx

The gods respected the Styx and swore binding oaths by it. Zeus swore to give Semele whatever she wanted and was then obliged to follow through, resulting in her death. Helios similarly promised Phaton whatever he desired, also resulting in his death. Gods that did not follow through on such an oath had to drink from the river, causing them to lose their voices for nine years. According to some versions, Styx had miraculous powers and could make someone immortal.

 Cupid and Psyche

We get some insight to the rules of the underworld Psyche is sent on some tasks to prove her love for Eros. She is told to take her two pieces of barley bread soaked in honey for the Hound of Hades, and two coins in her mouth for the greedy ferryman Charon (one for the arrival and one for the return).
makes it difficult for poor people to achieve true death, as they instead had to wander without hope on this side of the river Styx, which is in fact similar to their fate on earth, where they are prevented to achieve true life.

 the earliest un-peopled landscapes Albrecht Altdorfer. Landscape with a Footbridge 1518

This picture is a very early example by a Western European artist of an independent landscape painted without figures.
A second landscape by Altdorfer in Munich (Alte Pinakothek) is also without figures; the present picture possibly dates from about 1518-20 and may be the earlier of the two.

 View of the Danube Valley near Regensburg Also may have seen Durer s water colours He is known to have taken a journey down the Danube and afterwards being totally passionate about landscape. It shows a particularly German character bristling with wild forests and lonely wolf infested glades. We are offered a romantic substitute for mankind, one purer and more open to the ethereal heavens. Altdorfer believes in the sacramental value of what he paints, and it is his conviction that convinces.

The peasant paintinger Pieter Bruegel the elder. 1526-69 Flemish painter. He is part an essential European tradition in which the Italian quest for ideal human form has no place. He was well educated and travelled man who did not really deserve the accolade Peasant painter. He was more influenced by other European painters like Bosch and Patinir.

 Brueghel's naer het leven sketches

Examples of many different kinds of people country and city

Roughly drawn on the spot in chalk later worked up in brown ink remarkable detailed
The wagoner comfortably astride his weary nag tangle of harness and ropes meticulously drawn 2 rabbis hunched over a volume of Talmudic commentary are properly bearded hatted and robed Scribbled notes are Brueghel's colour references Interestingly, few of these studies are traceable in actual paintings Did he sketch for reference or for fun? There is much speculation as to the motive for doing these.

 His sketches indicate an interest in types rather than individuals An expressive posture, slump of an old man, angle of a bent leg or fold of garment. He almost never shows the face, in paintings individuals hardly ever seen alone Even a poor old woman looks more a general type than the detailed work of previous contemporaries the life of the portrait is in the emotion with the dull features of a tired work-worn life

The Battle between Carnival and Lent-1559

The battle between carnival and Lent ;Wimmelbilder: (picture filled with people)1559
IN Bruegels day there was a famous festival in Flanders- a three day festival of celebration eating and drinking carousing, in the 40 days preceding lent. During lent, the pios would drink water ate little but fish, and no revelry of any kind. The painting is centred on a mock battle-a traditional part of the festivities-in which the piety of lent is comically pitted against the revelry of Carnival. At the centre, a brightly dressed grossly fat man representing Carnivals excesses is mounted on a huge beer barrel, ready to joust with lent, a scrawny creature clad in mourning and seated on an uncomfortable prayer stool. Carnival brandishes a cooking spit garnished with rich holiday food while lent weakly holds a bakers paddle holding two mean herring. Behind Carnival to the left and the down the side streets, revelers wolf down waffles, qauff beer and dance gaily. Before the Inn of the Blue Boat comedians act a farce called The Ugly Bride, while a couple kisses in the window above The left side of the frame is filled with beggars who are ignored. The right side is filled with piety and charity. Darkrobed worshippers stream from an austere Church, a fishwife does a thriving trade beside a well and kindly burghers dispense alms.

The Cripples-1568

The Cripples 1568

Bruegels paintings of common people can be read on many levels This could simply be a shocking realisation of a group of cripples and an old woman begging These people were an everyday sight in Bruegels day The one idea is these people are paying the price for vice and sin This harsh didactic painting also interpreted as an illustration for an old dutch proverb Lies go lame as if on crutches Seen in Historic context may have social and political nuances All the hats worn by the cripples are different for example the mock bishops mitre on the right, the soldiers red shako on the left suggesting the official headgears of members of the establishment There also was a group of Flemish noblemen who, agitating against Spanish control in their country took the nickname beggars from a haughty jeer thrown at them from a Spanish sympathiser They carried beggars bowls and wore chains and foxtails, the traditional beggars garb In time popular support for this movement grew into the wars between Spain and the Netherlands Long live the beggars became the rallying cry

The Peasant Dance 1568

Peasant Dance-1568

The most prolonged and riotous holiday enjoyed by the Flemish peasants was Kermesse, Combined fair and fete held anually on the feast day of the local saint During celebrations a village can be turned upside down for a week or more whilst the villages danced to the tunes of travelling bagpipes, drank homebrew and bought house wares and trinkets from travelling booths set up by travelling merchants The flower decked picture of the Virgin in the tree, the Jester entertaining a group in the centre, the gay banner floating above the door of what appears to be a local Inn and the fact that the village Church features so prominently in the background Not a birds eye view as in earlier works, the viewer is presented with an eye level view of the festivities concentrating on a few figures-the wildly gesticulating group at the trestle table; dancers stepping to the song of a piper A picture of real people whose heavy hands, rude gestures, and weathered faces reveal the wear and tear of their daily work.

Brueghel's earliest surviving design for engraving about 1556 Pen and ink drawing of the temptations of St Anthony This engraving based on the drawing Demonstrates how Breughel used traditional Bible motifs and popular legends of the lives of the saints as a starting point for compositions Filled with contemporary Flemish proverbs

Here too are several interlocking Flemish proverbs Big fish eat little fish is the most obvious A flood of other marine creatures some disgorging others spills from the belly wound of a monster fish The hooded man suggests another saying Little fish lure the big The symbol on the blade suggests the world wide scope of a mans folly.

Landscape with the fall of Icarus

What was happening in 1567 68 March 11 Geuzen army leaves Walcheren to return to Oosterweel March 13 Battle at Oosterweel: Spanish troops destroy Geuzenleger April 11 Dutch prince William of Orange flees from Antwerp to Breda May 15 Mary, Queen of Scots marries James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell June 15 Battle at Carberry Scot: Protestant troops beat Earl Bothwells army June 15 Genoa Italy expels Jews June 16 Mary, Queen of Scots, imprisoned in Lochleven Castle prison aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaScotland June 20 Jews are expelled from Brazil by order of regent Don Henrique July 24 Mary Queen of Scots is forced to abdicate and 1-year-old James VI aaaaaaaaaaaaaaabecomes King of Scotland August 8 Duke of Alva's army enters Brussels Belgium September 9 Lomaraal van Egmond and Philip van Hoorne captured September 29 War of Religion - Huguenots try to kidnap king Charles IX October 6 Duke of Alva becomes land guardian of Netherlands November 10 Battle at St-Denis: French government army vs Huguenots
In 1567, Philip, the Duke of Alba who was a zealous opponent of Protestantism, sent Alba into the Netherlands at the head of an army of 12,000 men, with unlimited powers for the extirpation of the heretics. Alba quickly erected a tribunal, the Council of Troubles, which soon became known to the Calvinists as the "Council of Blood," to try all persons who had been engaged in the late commotions that the rule of Philip had excited. During the ten years it operated, thousands of people were executed.

The wedding feast. 1567- 68

He did often paint peasants as dull witted and simple people but with humor as well as compassion. The scene is set in a humble barn with the tools and work implements still shown. The fat and silly bride sits in front of her green cloth of honor. She is a picture of a simple plain woman in her hour of triumph.

The guests tuck into the free food a child licking his bowl clean. The food is simple porridge or custard carried on rude planks. The piper looks longingly at the food which he is not allowed to eat until his work is done as only the truly hungry can do.

How does he feel about his subject? Brueghel paints the human condition with an element of satire, although he is not part of the scene there is a sadness and helplessness about these poor people who have been made dull and stupid by over work and lack of food and comfort. There is a love for humanity in all its difficulties he does not mock but is gentle in his humor. He is conscious of a divine love and care for the downtrodden and forgotten people.

The servant came back and reported to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room. Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

The Tower of Babel 1563

Gen 11:1-9 now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth. "But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. "So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel-- because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

 It is a medieval city being built in Flanders with all the building activity used in Brueghel's own day. This is customary for artists illustrating bible texts but he is obviously making a some observations about his own generation.

The tower is shown in its horrifying complexity the humans dwarfed by the structure. The reference is to an anthill in which the activity of man is reduced to mindless scurrying about. What is seen is the futility of human endeavor and their vain pursuits are doomed to failure. King Nimrod shown as a medieval king strides imperiously along the edge with his subjects humbly bowing before him and ironic reference to the pride and vanity of the rulers of Brueghel's day. Brueghel's sympathy with the working class is seen again in their submission to the will of an elitist group.

What was the Reformation? This refers to a time beginning in the early 16th C The Churches of Northern Europe sought autonomy from the control of the Roman Papacy. Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgences. This is considered the catalyst in starting the reformation. The end result after much bloodshed and destruction was each nation was permitted to follow the religion of its sovereign.

This portrait is said to be the first artistic presentation of the young Luther Lucas Cranach

 This proposal is popularly known as the 95 Theses, which he nailed to the Castle Church doors. This was not an act of defiance or provocation as is sometimes thought. Since the Castle Church faced Wittenbergs main thoroughfare, the church door functioned as a public bulletin board and was therefore the logical place for posting important notices. Also, the theses were written in Latin, the language of the church, and not in the vernacular.

Diet of Worms This was a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire that took place in Worms, a town on the Rhine. It was conducted from 28 January to 25 May 1521, with Emperor Charles V presiding. Prince Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, obtained a safe conduct for Luther to and from the meeting. He refused to renounce his teachings and was branded a heretic.

What is the painting Gloomy day about?

It was painted for a wealthy citizen of Antwerp as a series of painting illustrating the activities of each month. This painting takes place in the dark cold months of February and March

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Describe the various separate scenes in the picture.(8) The mountainous landscape The distant jagged peaks are a reminder of the capricious power of nature. The peaks contrast with the protective peaks of the houses. The colours are cold white and blue which contrast with the warm browns and oranges of the village. 6. Comforting wisps of smoke from the village contrast with the clouds above the mountains.

The Village 1. The small figures once again give the feeling of insects in nature. 2. They are part of nature but are threatened by it. 3. Touches of bawdy humour with a man following his own dictates of nature

Carnival time The peasants are pollarding the willow trees done at this time of year The child has a paper crown A man is eating waffles made at carnival time. This is done at the time of Epiphany and Shrovetide. The lantern is also a carnival device.

Foundering ships 1. This demonstrates the destructive power of nature. 2. The ships are man made but are shown as incidental events in a vast powerful and capricious nature. 3. How does the artist feel generally about man and nature? (2) 4. Nature is shown as vast and impersonal the sky is dark and threatening, 5. Life is precarious and we are powerless before the might of nature. 6. Also the shortness of our time and the infinity of nature that has no limitations with regard to time.

Hunters the snow 1565 (4)

1. The ant like activities of this time is seen on the figures skating on the ice in the distance. 2. We are aware of the cold as we see the tired hunters and dogs returning and we look down into the vista of activities that take place at this time of year. 3. We see the jagged peaks ominous in the distance but this is a more peaceful scene in which the snow unites the elements in a dazzling white canopy. 4. The composition is almost identical to Gloomy day but simply reversed obviously an outlay that appealed to Breughel.