The art of alchemy

A new book explores the mystery and symbolism of the early days of chemistry

Written byManasee Wagh
| 1 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
1:00
Share
Before there was chemistry there was alchemy. So before there was art about chemistry, there was art about alchemy. For previous generations of chemists, so much of how things work was a mystery, so artwork that featured animals, astronomical objects, and other aspects of nature contained significant symbolic meaning. As time went on, of course, modern experimental methods turned people away from mysticism, and alchemy became a piece of the past. From Alchemy to Chemistry in Picture and Story by organic chemist Arthur Greenberg at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, published this year, presents the images and stories that emerged from chemistry's early days. The book takes a world view, covering the four primordial elements of the ancient Greeks, the pit-fired colored clay pots of the South Carolina Catawba Native Americans, and modern scientists' discovery of subatomic particles. Many of the images depict discoveries or ideas that had a significant influence on later generations of biologists and biochemists. "The pictures are really fascinating -- there are some wild allegorical figures," says Greenberg. "When you see alchemical symbolism, you find a lot of metaphor in it. For instance, the modern symbol for the American Chemical Society includes a phoenix and other images rich with symbolic meaning. Other artwork depicts transmutation, a common alchemical concept that requires removing imperfections from metals to attain gold, and symbolizes humans banishing their imperfections to attain grace. "I'm trying to give a historical context to where our chemical history came from," Greenberg says.Click here to start the slideshow.Manasee Wagh mail@the-scientist.com
Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Related Topics

Meet the Author

Share
Image of a man in a laboratory looking frustrated with his failed experiment.
February 2026

A Stubborn Gene, a Failed Experiment, and a New Path

When experiments refuse to cooperate, you try again and again. For Rafael Najmanovich, the setbacks ultimately pushed him in a new direction.

View this Issue
Human-Relevant In Vitro Models Enable Predictive Drug Discovery

Advancing Drug Discovery with Complex Human In Vitro Models

Stemcell Technologies
Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Redefining Immunology Through Advanced Technologies

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in AAV Manufacturing with Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Beckman Coulter Logo
Conceptual multicolored vector image of cancer research, depicting various biomedical approaches to cancer therapy

Maximizing Cancer Research Model Systems

bioxcell

Products

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological Pioneers Life Sciences Innovation with High-Quality Bioreagents on Inside Business Today with Bill and Guiliana Rancic

Sino Biological Logo

Sino Biological Expands Research Reagent Portfolio to Support Global Nipah Virus Vaccine and Diagnostic Development

Beckman Coulter

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Partners with Automata to Accelerate AI-Ready Laboratory Automation

Refeyn logo

Refeyn named in the Sunday Times 100 Tech list of the UK’s fastest-growing technology companies