Alchemy discussion forum > Alchemical Symbolism and Imagery > Alchemy Symbolism and Imagery > La Sibilla Chimica
Alchemy discussion forum > Alchemical Symbolism and Imagery > Alchemy Symbolism and Imagery > La Sibilla Chimica |
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adammclean Member 
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I have just discovered two examples of a Sibilla Chimica in Italian art. The first is a fresco in the Santuario Madonna dell'Ambro (the Santuary of the Madonna of amber) in Montefortino. This chapel was established in 1602 replacing an earlier building which housed a sacred image of Mary. There are a series of frescos of the Sybils one of which is a Sibilla Chimica, said to have been created by the artist Martino Bonfini da Patrignone around about 1610-12. Attached Image (viewed 2272 times): Last edited on Sat Mar 28th, 2009 11:23 am by adammclean |
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adammclean Member
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I also found a late 15th century engraving by Francesco Rosselli (1445-1513) of a Sibilla Chimica. This is part of a series of Prophets and Sybils this Florentine artist apparently created around 1475. Attached Image (viewed 5099 times): |
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Paul Ferguson Member 
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adammclean wrote:I have just discovered two examples of a Sibilla Chimica in Italian art. I believe the proceedings of this conference: http://www.alchemywebsite.com/elissa_congress.html refers to this painting in this paper: "Anna Maria Piscitelli (Progetto Elissa): L’errare della Vergine Sibilla dal terzo cielo all’ Aes Ustum." |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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It would seem that the theologian (and Inquisitor!) Filippo Barberi mentions and illustrates a Sibilla Chimica in this book: http://www.vialibri.net/item_pg/2673696-1505-barberiis-philippus-quattuor-hic-compressa-opuscola-discordantiae-sanctorum-doctorum-hieronymi.htm Apparently this book was referred to extensively by Lorenzo Lotto, who included a Sibilla Chimica in his frescoes in the Oratorio Suardi in Trescore: http://www.cassiciaco.it/ITA/001ago/pittori/2005/suardi/brigida/suardi_ciclo10.htm There is also one in Busto Arizio, referred to in Este Milani's article on page 24 of this volume: http://www.lafamigliabustocca.it/1957.htm Finally, there is one by Bernardino Luini in Saronno: http://fe.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/catalogo/scheda.jsp?decorator=layout&apply=true&tipo_scheda=OA&id=54353&titolo=Luini+Bernardino+,+Sibilla+Chimica Attached Image (viewed 2000 times): Last edited on Sat Mar 28th, 2009 04:09 pm by Paul Ferguson |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Paul Ferguson wrote:It would seem that the theologian (and Inquisitor!) Filippo Barberi mentions and illustrates a Sibilla Chimica in this book: More about Barberi here: http://www.lavocedifiore.org/SPIP/article.php3?id_article=3005 "Il volume più prezioso tra quelli scomparsi (la mostra non è nuova a questo genere di episodi: era già successo nell’edizione del 2004, ndr) si trovava allo stand numero 7 ed è, in realtà, un piccolo libro, non più alto di 18 centimetri e largo 125, con sibille e oracoli effigiati, scritto da un teologo siciliano del ’400, Filippo de Barberis e stampato dal primo tipografo italiano, Filippo de Lignamine." and here (with a splendid reproduction of his own Sibilla Chimica): http://panizzi.comune.re.it/mostre/incu/barberiis.htm Attached Image (viewed 2372 times): |
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adammclean Member
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It is amazing how many of these artworks on the theme of the Sibilla Chimica there appear to be. From two examples you now have extended the list to at least five. It must have been an image that caught the attention of this small group of Italian late 15th and early 16th century artists. |
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adammclean Member
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I am beginning to wonder if this sibyl of "chimica" is in fact a misreading of the classical Cumaean Sibyl, and this has no connection at all to alchemy. The Barberi clearly show her alongside the Delphic Sybil. Last edited on Sat Mar 28th, 2009 04:31 pm by adammclean |
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adammclean Member
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Yes it seems to be a variant. See this piece from http://www.archive.org/stream/pavementmasterso00custuoft/pavementmasterso00custuoft_djvu.txt
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Paul Ferguson Member
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adammclean wrote:It is amazing how many of these artworks on the theme of the Sibilla Chimica there appear to be. From two examples you now have extended the list to at least five. It must have been an image that caught the attention of this small group of Italian late 15th and early 16th century artists. Make that six. See Hartmann Schedel's "Schedelsche Weltchronik": http://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Die_Schedelsche_Weltchronik_(deutsch):079 and also here if you'd like one for your wall: http://www.lamus.pl/shop_2006/_php/index_base.php?cat_ID=1&cat_owner_ID=1⊂_cat_ID=71&product_ID=3593&option=product_details Attached Image (viewed 2002 times): Last edited on Sat Mar 28th, 2009 04:39 pm by Paul Ferguson |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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adammclean wrote:I am beginning to wonder if this sibyl of "chimica" is in fact a misreading of the classical Cumaean Sibyl, and this has no connection at all to alchemy. The Barberi clearly show her alongside the Delphic Sybil. Yes indeed. Look at Barberi's text: "Sibylla emeria in Italia nata alias Chimica..." "The Sybil Emeria [i.e. the Cumaean Sybil], born in Italy, otherwise known as Chimica..." |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Seven! There's also one by the Master of the Goslar Sybils: http://www.deutschefotothek.de/obj70700625.html#|home |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Apparently Barbieri and his Sibilla Chimica are referred to in this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=3DAE8A13A12BC9DA47FDE25696451D75.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=1298740 Alan may like to note this. |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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The Sibilla Chimica is also mentioned on page 97 of: "De historie van Belgis, oft Chronycke der Nederlandtsche oudtheyt", by Marcus Van Vaernewijck, Petrus De Jode and Joannes Meysens, printed by Reynier Sleghers 1665 Available as a free download from Google Books :o) |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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adammclean wrote:I am beginning to wonder if this sibyl of "chimica" is in fact a misreading of the classical Cumaean Sibyl, and this has no connection at all to alchemy. The Barberi clearly show her alongside the Delphic Sybil. A connection between the Cumaean Sybil and alchemy seems logical, as she famously asked Apollo to grant her eternal life (while forgetting to ask for eternal youth at the same time). |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Eight! There would also seem to be one in the Chiesa dei Miracoli in Venice. See here: http://cgi.ebay.it/VENEZIA-S.M.DE-MIRACOLI-ARCHITETTURA-ARTE-RINASCIMENTO_W0QQitemZ350135582503QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081205?IMSfp=TL081205128001r10492 Attached Image (viewed 2024 times): |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Paul Ferguson wrote:adammclean wrote: There is another article by Anna Maria which may be relevant: "Sibilla Alchemica: eresia di un'ipotesi", in "Le terre della Sibilla Appenninica, Antico crocevia di idee scienze e cultura", Atti del Convegno di Ascoli Piceno-Montemonaco 6-9 Novembre 1998, a cura del Progetto Elissa, Progetto Elissa, 1999. |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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In the series of engravings of the Sybils attributed (wrongly?) to Baccio Baldini, a contemporary of Botticelli, the engraving of the Cimmerian Sybil apparently has the words "Sibilla Chimica" in the accompanying banderole. So that makes nine. |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Paul Ferguson wrote:It would seem that the theologian (and Inquisitor!) Filippo Barberi mentions and illustrates a Sibilla Chimica in this book: There is an attractive book about the frescoes by Francesca Cortesi Bosco: http://eng.archinform.net/quellen/90639.htm |
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