Emblems: Manly P. Hall - Book First

By Yuka Jordan and Darrell Jordan

The two frontispieces from the book of emblems are of Michael Maier, one has been touched up to remove the blemishes on the hands and face of brother Maier, and the other is the original.The emblems following were enlarged and enhanced to bring out the vibrancy of the colors for your viewing pleasure. But more importantly for the reason of study as each has contained within the hidden allegorical meaning. The emblems are from Michael Maiers' book Atalanta Fugiens, wherein the illustrator and engraver of the emblems was Matth?us Merian. Michael Maier (1568 - 1622) was a Rosicrucian, celebrated German alchemist, physician and a counsellor to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II Habsburg at Prague, and had a strong influence on Sir Isaac Newton. Michael Maier was born in Rendsburg, Holstein, in 1568. He studied philosophy and medicine at Rostock, Frankfurt (M.A. 1592), and Padua. He attained in 1596 a doctorate in medicine at Basel and returned to Rostock to practice the medical profession. Around 1601 he became interested in alchemy. In 1608 he went to Prague, and in 1609 became the physician and imperial counsellor of Rudolf II. The interest of the emperor in the occult was the reason of his high esteem for Maier. Maier also served other German princes, particularly the prince of Nassau, a great protector of alchemy. In 1611 he spent time in England at the court of James I.Maier had a strong influence on Sir Isaac Newton. He was also involved in the Rosicrucian movement. "Count Michael Maier was an outstanding figure in the Rosicrucian controversy. There is little doubt that he was an initiated member of the Rosicrucian Fraternity, empowered by the Order to promulgate its secrets among the philosophic elect of Europe. He was profuse in his use of emblems and the greater part of his philosophical lore is concealed in the engravings which illustrate his books." (Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, p.141)Matth?us Merian, (1593 - 1650), engraver, etcher, and book dealer, the leading German illustrator of the 17th century.In 1609 Merian began studying with Dietrich Meyer, a painter, and engraver of Z?rich, and in 1613 he moved to Nancy. After studying in Paris, Stuttgart (1616), and the Low Countries, he went to Frankfurt, wherein 1618 he married the eldest daughter of J.T. de Bry, publisher and engraver. He worked with his father-in-law at Oppenheim, then returned to Basel, but went back to Frankfurt after de Bry's death (1623) to take over his business.Merian completed in 1624 the great record of discovery and travel Collectiones Peregrinationum in Indiam ("Collections of Travels in India"), begun by the de Brys in 1590. De Bry's business remained in Merian's family until 1726, when a fire destroyed it. From 1627 to 1629 the Bohemian etcher Wenzel Hollar was in Merian's studio in Frankfurt. Between 1625 and 1630 Merian published illustrations to the Bible. In 1635 he began the series Theatrum Europaeum, and between 1642 and 1688 he published Martin Zeiller's Topographia Germaniae, with more than 2,000 plates etched and engraved by himself and his sons Matth?us and Caspar. Among his last works was "Dance of Death" (1649).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1980344809
• ISBN13: 9781980344803
• Release Date: February 2018
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 106 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.3" x 8.5"