Alchemy

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris), with her soft, rounded leaves and delicate, star-shaped blossoms, carries the quiet power of the earth’s ancient wisdom. Known throughout the ages for her deep connection to alchemy and the sacred, she holds a secret in her folds—the dew that gathers upon her leaves, a precious liquid believed to harbour transformative magic. To the alchemists, this dew was far more than simple moisture; it was a vessel of potent energies, a living essence imbued with the forces of the cosmos. Shimmering in the light of dawn, each droplet was thought to contain the potential for profound change, capable of turning base materials into gold, both physically and spiritually.

The alchemists rose before the first light, stepping carefully among the fields where Lady’s Mantle thrived. In those quiet hours, they would collect the dew—each drop caught in a crystal vial, each moment a sacred act of devotion. The dew was not gathered casually; it was seen as an offering from the divine, a bridge between the material world and the ethereal. The alchemists understood that to collect it was to partake in a communion with the divine feminine, whose nurturing power could guide them toward enlightenment.

Lady’s Mantle’s dew was used in the creation of potions and elixirs, and in the most secretive of alchemical experiments. It was believed to carry the essence of transformation itself, capable of purifying the spirit, enhancing intuition, and unlocking hidden potentials within the soul. When mixed with other alchemical ingredients, the dew would spark subtle changes—turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, the mundane into the sacred. It was thought to amplify the connection between the material and the spiritual realms, making it an essential element in the alchemists’ quest for knowledge and illumination.

'Lady's Mantle'
Jan. 2025
Botanical Bas Relief
5.75" x 3.75"

Painted with handmade, natural plant & mineral watercolour pigments: 24k Gold, Genuine Serpentine Stone, Indigo, Genista, Woad), the dew of Lady's Mantle and Gouache.

*Due to the fragile nature of the plaster & watercolour, do not display in areas prone to damp (i.e. bathroom, near a kitchen sink, etc.)

A wall hanging wire is fixed to the back of the piece. Alternatively, the painting can be placed on a small wooden easle for display.