Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan

Ahmed O M Abualrob; Seda Yavuz

doi:10.46372/arts.1883405

TR EN

19. yüzyıl Batı sanatında simgesel bir çerçeve olarak simya: Rossetti, Moreau ve De Morgan üzerine karşılaştırmalı bir analiz

Abstract

Deneysel bilimin meşru bilginin sınırlarını yeniden tanımladığı bir bağlamda, simya on dokuzuncu yüzyıl batı sanatında yeni görsel ve simgesel ifadeler kazanır. Bu çalışma, simyasal kavramları süsleyici motifler olarak değil, analitik yapılar olarak ele alan nitel ve ikonografik-simgesel bir yaklaşım benimser. Dönüşümün kromatik evreleri, Sol–Luna kutuplaşması ve coniunctio oppositorum ilkesi; anlamın kompozisyon, renk ve figüratif ilişkiler yoluyla nasıl kurulduğunu incelemek için yorumlayıcı araçlar olarak kullanılır. Bu araçlar, İngiltere ve Fransa’dan seçilen üç örnek üzerinden uygulanır. Analiz, simyanın modernliğe özgü entelektüel ve tinsel parçalanmaya yanıt veren tutarlı bir görsel mantık olarak işlev gördüğünü ortaya koyar. Simyanın yeniden canlanışı, sanatçılara madde ile tin, gelenek ile modernlik ve görü ile bilgi arasındaki gerilimlerin müzakere edilmesini sağlayan bütüncül bir simgesel çerçeve sunar. Çalışma, simyanın estetik söylemin dönüşümüne katkıda bulunan görsel-simgesel bir yöntem olarak işlediğini savunur.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Yok

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma için etik kurul onayı gerekmemektedir.

Thanks

Yok

Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan

Abstract

Within a context in which experimental science redefined the limits of legitimate knowledge, alchemy acquired new visual and symbolic expressions in nineteenth-century western art. This study adopts a qualitative, iconographic-symbolic approach that treats alchemical concepts as structures rather than decorative motifs. The chromatic stages of transformation, the Sol–Luna polarity, and the principle of coniunctio oppositorum are employed as interpretive tools to examine how meaning is constructed through composition, color, and figural relationships. These tools are applied to three case studies from England and France. The analysis demonstrates that alchemy functions as a visual logic responding to the intellectual and spiritual fragmentation of modernity. The revival of alchemy provided artists with a symbolic framework through which tensions between matter and spirit, tradition and modernity, and vision and knowledge are negotiated. The study argues that alchemy operated as a visual-symbolic method contributing to the transformation of aesthetic discourse.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

This study does not require ethics committee approval.

Thanks

None

References

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Rossetti Archive. (n.d.). Beata Beatrix (replica). Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities, University of Virginia. https://rossettiarchive.iath.virginia.edu/docs/s168.r-3.rap.html
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Painting History, Art History

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ahmed O M Abualrob ^*
0009-0009-0925-4158
Palestine

Seda Yavuz
0000-0002-7268-2149
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 19, 2026

Submission Date

February 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 16

DOI

https://doi.org/10.46372/arts.1883405

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA34ZP66FN

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Abualrob, A. O. M., & Yavuz, S. (2026). Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan. ARTS: Artuklu Sanat Ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi, 16, 181-197. https://doi.org/10.46372/arts.1883405

AMA

1.Abualrob AOM, Yavuz S. Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan. ARTS. 2026;(16):181-197. doi:10.46372/arts.1883405

Chicago

Abualrob, Ahmed O M, and Seda Yavuz. 2026. “Alchemy As a Symbolic Framework in Nineteenthcentury Western Art: A Comparative Analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan”. ARTS: Artuklu Sanat Ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi, nos. 16: 181-97. https://doi.org/10.46372/arts.1883405.

EndNote

Abualrob AOM, Yavuz S (September 1, 2026) Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan. ARTS: Artuklu Sanat ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi 16 181–197.

IEEE

[1]A. O. M. Abualrob and S. Yavuz, “Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan”, ARTS, no. 16, pp. 181–197, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.46372/arts.1883405.

ISNAD

Abualrob, Ahmed O M - Yavuz, Seda. “Alchemy As a Symbolic Framework in Nineteenthcentury Western Art: A Comparative Analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan”. ARTS: Artuklu Sanat ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi. 16 (September 1, 2026): 181-197. https://doi.org/10.46372/arts.1883405.

JAMA

1.Abualrob AOM, Yavuz S. Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan. ARTS. 2026;:181–197.

MLA

Abualrob, Ahmed O M, and Seda Yavuz. “Alchemy As a Symbolic Framework in Nineteenthcentury Western Art: A Comparative Analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan”. ARTS: Artuklu Sanat Ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi, no. 16, Sept. 2026, pp. 181-97, doi:10.46372/arts.1883405.

Vancouver

1.Ahmed O M Abualrob, Seda Yavuz. Alchemy as a symbolic framework in nineteenthcentury Western art: a comparative analysis of Rossetti, Moreau and De Morgan. ARTS. 2026 Sep. 1;(16):181-97. doi:10.46372/arts.1883405