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Funding to partake in the event is available via the competitive Comèl Grant. Applicants are requested to submit their proposal prior to applying for the grant.

This conference explores the use of alchemical remedies and processes in the cultural and intellectual context of pre-modern Europe, focusing especially on medical alchemy, whose ultimate goal was to create the elixir, a universal remedy capable of curing all diseases. It delves into the dynamics of knowledge exchange and interaction between the Occitan-Catalan region and the rest of Europe, promoted by the dissemination of Rupescissa’s works and ideas. One of the highlights of the conference will be the presentation of the  Pseudo-Llullian and Pseudo-Arnaldian Alchemical Corpus, a digital tool now available to scholars working on alchemy in the late Middle Ages.

The rich cultural and intellectual exchange between the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities in the Occitan-Catalan region created a unique environment that greatly influenced the development of medical alchemy. At the heart of the alchemical school that flourished in this region were the so-called Fraticelli, or ‘Spiritual Franciscans’, who opposed changes to the rule of St Francis of Assisi with regards to poverty, the most prominent of whom was John of Rupescissa (1320-1366), along with figures associated with the movement such as Pseudo-Llull and Pseudo-Arnau (first half of the 14th century), as well as Francesc Eiximenis (1330-1409). Recent contributions to Rupescissa’s Liber lucis by Lawrence Principe and others have provided new insights into processes such as the extraction of plant and mineral essences, which had an impact centuries later, influencing, among others, the same Paracelsus (1493-1541).

The conference spans two days and includes three main sessions:

1. Circulation of Alchemical Knowledge

The session looks at the uses and applications of alchemical knowledge across Europe, especially the literature on secrets, remedies (elixir, stones, waters, theriac), and ideas (radical moisture and rejuvenation). Highlights of this session include the presentation of a Catalan digital corpus focusing on the development of alchemy and medicine during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period (Occitan, Iberian, and Italic areas).

2. Cross-Cultural Dynamics

This session explores the spreading, influence, and hybridisation of alchemical knowledge with other disciplines, such as medicine, botany, natural history, theology, etc.

3. Experimental Recreation of Historical Practices and Remedies

Inspired by recent works by William R. Newman and others, which have demonstrated the viability of reproducing historical alchemical practices based on printed and manuscript sources, this session is devoted to exploring projects or research methods that look at alchemical practices from an experimental viewpoint.

The best papers will be collected and submitted for publication in the series Palgrave Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Medicine (PSMEMM).

While open to anyone interested, participation in the conference is subject to a fee. Participants interested in giving a paper are encouraged to reach out to the organisers with their contribution’s title and abstract (max 300 words) before applying.

The deadline for submitting a paper is 15^th August 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in Early September and invited to finalise the application process. Successful applicants will be notified in Early September and invited to finalise the application process.

A limited number of free slots for MA and PhD students are available via the competitive Comèl Grant. Applicants are requested to submit their proposal prior to applying for the grant. The deadline for grant applications falls on 10^th September 2024 (5 pm CEST). Interested people are invited to send an inquiry to the centre at info@csmbr.fondazionecomel.org, by motivating their interest or by attaching a recent CV.