The Splendor Solis by Stephen Skinner
A magnificent edition of Splendor Solis for all those interested in alchemy, magic and mysterious manuscripts. Popularly attributed to the legendary figure Salomon Trismosin, Splendor Solis (‘Splendour of the Sun’) is the most beautiful alchemical manuscript ever made, with 22 fabulous illustrations rich in allegorical and mystical symbolism. The paintings are given a fitting showcase in this new Watkins edition, which accompanies them with Joscelyn Godwin’s excellent contemporary translation of the original 16th-century German text, as well as interpretation from alchemical experts Stephen Skinner and Georgiana Hedesan, and from Rafał T. Prinke, an authority in central and Eastern European esoteric manuscripts. Stephen Skinner explains the symbolism of both the text and the illustrations, suggesting that together they describe the physical process of the alchemical transmutation of base metal into gold. Rafal T. Prinke explains the theories about the authorship of both text and illustrations, discussing Splendor Solis as the turning point in alchemical iconography passing from the medieval tradition to that of the Baroque and the reasons for the misattribution of Splendor Solis to Poysel and Trismosin. Georgiana Hedesan looks at the legendary figure of Salomon Trismosin and his creation by followers of Theophrastus Paracelsus as part of an attempt to integrate their master in a lineage of ancient alchemical philosophers. The images are taken from the British Library manuscript Harley 3469, the finest example of the Splendor Solis to survive.
Stephen Skinner is the founder and publisher of Feng Shui for Modern Living magazine, the world's best-selling magazine on feng shui, which is available in many countries and published simultaneously in both English and Chinese. He originally learned feng shui with practicing masters in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Skinner is also the author of The Living Earth Manual of Feng Shui, the first English-language book on feng shui published in the 20th century. Master Wu Hsien Sheng is one of the old style feng shui masters practicing mainly in Hong Kong, who inherited his profession from his father, and his father before him. Now retired and in his eighties, Master Wu remembers when the main concern of his early clients was for yin feng shui, and the lay of the land was more important than the colors of the curtains. Nowadays his clients are more likely to include businessmen or lawyers. He attributes his considerable vigor to Chinese ch'i concentrating exercises and the number of mountains he climbed when he was young.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781786782052 |
| ISBN 10 | 1786782057 |
| Title | The Splendor Solis |
| Author | Stephen Skinner |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Watkins Publishing |
| Year published | 2019-03-19 |
| Number of pages | 176 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |