Michael Maier, Atalanta fugiens.
Oppenheim, Hieronymus Galler for Johann Theodor de Bry, 1618

Maier (ca.1568-1622), court physician of Rudolf II and Rosicrucian apologist, created with this collection of emblems an alchemical Gesamtkunstwerk in image, text and music: we recognize in the composition of each of the three-part motets the fleeing Atalanta of the title, Hippomenes pursuing her, and the apple which delays her flight. The 50 emblems, by Mattheus Merian, symbolize alchemical principles. In emblem XXI Maier used the ideal shapes of the circle (= the cyclical process), the triangle (= the three principles salt, mercury and sulphur) and the square (= the four elements) to represent the preparation of the Philosophers' Stone.