AN INTRODUCTION TO ALCHEMY - A Lecture by Laurence Caruana

This Seven-part Series of Lectures on ALCHEMY, VISIONS & ART begins with four presentations on ALCHEMY, followed by one presentation on alchemical themes in VISIONARY ART, and finally a two-part presentation on the Alchemy of Traditional ARTISTS’ MATERIALS: ALCHEMY: 1. An Introduction to Alchemy () 2. The Sources of Alchemy () 3. A History of Alchemy () 4. The Alchemy of Colour () VISIONARY ART: 5. Alchemy & Visionary Art () ARTISTS’ MATERIALS: 6. The Alchemy of Painting Mediums & Pigments () BONUS LECTURE: 7. The Gnostic Worldview () Filmed at THE VIENNA ACADEMY OF VISIONARY ART during Laurence Caruana’s 2019 Winter Trimester on ’The Alchemy of Paint’, the lectures give an increasingly in-depth understanding of Alchemy, including alchemical themes in Visionary Art and the alchemical nature of artists’ traditional Mediums and Pigments. A bonus lecture on The Gnostic Worldview completes the series. More information on L. Caruana’s books: More information on The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art: _______________________________________ 1. AN INTRODUCTION TO ALCHEMY PART ONE - A brief introduction on the lecturer’s personal approach to the sacred art 4:54 - The question: What is Alchemy? 8:07 - The etymology of the word ’Alchemy 12:27 - The Historical Periods of Alchemy 16:32 - The Spiritual Worldview of Alchemy 22:30 - Omnia ab Uno: Omnia ad Unum PART TWO 29:34 - The basic allegorical concepts of Alchemy 29:55 - The Prima Materia 33:05 - The Four Elements and Qualities 41:15 - The Tetrasomy of lead, tin, iron and copper 42:38 - The Four Degrees of Fire 46:00 - Aristotle’s vapours and exhalations as the source of metals 47:28 - The Sulphur-Mercury Theory 54:15 - The Stages of the Opus 57:48 - Distillation 1:01:17 - Planetary Correspondences 1:10:02 - Man as Microcosm 1:10:38 - The Trinity of Body, Soul & Spirit 1:13:00 - The Philosopher’s Stone 1:17:34 - The Emerald Tablet 1:20:37 - The Basilica Philosophica