The Fountain of the Philosophical Vegetable

This monochromatic print depicts a central, stylized fountain with a multi-tiered basin. A tall, tapered vessel sits in the middle, emitting two streams of liquid that cascade into the basin below. The fountain is enclosed within a square border composed of swirling, billowy clouds, each corner marked by a large eight-pointed star. Above the fountain, a sun with a stylized human face appears on the left, paired with a crescent moon on the right.

This image represents the 'Mercurial Fountain' frequently referenced in alchemical texts, symbolizing the transmutation of matter through the union of opposites (the Sun/King and Moon/Queen). It specifically relates to the 'Artis Auriferae' tradition of seventeenth-century alchemy, where the fountain acts as a vehicle for the 'philosophical waters' necessary for the Great Work.