Allow me to paint you a picture:
It’s 2013. I’m in my second year of university and I’m doing some background reading for an essay I’m semi invested in; the module ends up being one of my favourites, and this essay in particular got a really good grade, but at the time I’m halfheartedly skimming.through a pretty old book with one eye on the clock, until a passage catches my eye:
“It was reputed of him that he had summoned a number of evil spirits; and, on their obeying his call, had shut them up in seven crystal vases, where he detained them until he had occasion for their services.”
Which led to me sitting up a little straighter, highlighter in hand, and scribbling notes on a story that would stick in my mind for years to come. I love tracing tales like this back to their roots, and for someone like me who is inspired by magic and sorcery, this is like striking gold. I haven’t been able to get the concept of seven mysterious spirits in seven crystal vases out of my head: what would they have looked like? What powers did each one possess? What ended up happening to them? Did they automatically become released when the Conjurer died? Before I knew it, I was down a rabbit hole of possibility, and this week I’ll be sharing what I’ve uncovered with you.
But first, make sure you’re following the Puddles of Ink Instagram to see all of the compoenents of this series as I release them this week! Alongside this post today, you’ll find my ‘Seven Spirits’ piece on there, as well as some behind the scenes glimpses of my notes on my Stories! You’ll also find the completed illustration I made through interpreting Pietro d’Abano as a skilled magician on Friday - that’s also the day that both prints will become available in my shop as a mini bundle! If you’re a lover of my weekly art videos, make sure you check my Instagram on Sunday to watch the process video of the second piece over on my IGTV! As you can see below, there’s also lots more to see over there, so make sure you’re following!
But let’s rewind for a second: who actually was Pietro d’Abano?
Also known by the names Petrus de Apono or Aponensis, Pietro d’Abano was born in Abano Terme in Italy. The year of his birth is unconfirmed: some sources cite 1257, some 1250 and others 1256. He was a medical physician, philosopher, astrologer and, according to some, a sorcerer.
He studied medicine and philosophy at the University of Paris, and eventually settled in Padua; this is around the time his reputation started to become more controversial. Along the way, he traveled through Constantinople, where he studied the works of Galen, Avicenna and other renowned Eastern philosophers. He is heralded as being instrumental in introducing the West to Arabian philosophers and physicians. He worked on bridging the gaps between Greek and Arabic medical traditions, and there are many accounts praising his talent and abilities as a physician. It’s important to note this because, despite the rumours and controversy that continued to surround him until long after his death, people did believe in him and wanted to commission his services.
But, on the opposite side of the coin is a darker story. Pietro made the mistake of charging an exponential amount for his services, garnering plenty of bad press for his business. He took an active interest in astrology and, over time, became more outspoken about his belief that astrology and alchemy should be used together when studying medicine. In his mind:
Alchemy was integral to understanding how to compound medicine.
Astrology was vital to determining the auspicious moments appropriate for administering the treatments, as well as gathering ingredients and preparing the patient.
He ended up being investigated by the Inquisition and charged with practicing magic. You can read more about this, as well as the intricacies of his philosophy, here.
A work in progress shot of my illustration of Pietro d’Abano. If you Google him, you’ll see he didn’t actually look like this (shocker!), but I wanted to envision him as a magician and I let my mind wander. Go over to my Instagram to see the finished piece on Friday!
He wrote a number of books that have been used and cited for centuries, and are still notable today. The most renowned are:
Conciliator Differentiarum Quae Inter Philosophos et Medicos Versantur: this promoted the fusing of medical and astrological practices, as well as provided explanations for some of the miracles featured in the Bible. It’s no wonder this got the Inquisition’s attention!
De Venenis Eorumque Remediis (1472): a book on poisons.
Heptameron: a grimoire/concise collection of ritual magic rites regarding conjuring specific angels for the 7 days of the week. It is important to note that he is rumoured to be the author of this volume; there isn’t concise proof, but he is often credited.
This is NOT the same as the Heptameron by Marguerite of Navarre.
My interpretation of the 7 Spirits Pietro d’Abano apparently conjured and captured in 7 crystal vases. Look out for the print bundle of this and the finished Pietro d’Abano piece in my shop this weekend!
As I’m sure you’ve gathered by now, Pietro d’Abano was a man who was talked about for most of his adult life, and whilst he didn’t exactly help himself at times, some of the rumours were incredibly fantastical. My imagination drank up the idea of 7 crystal vases providing homes to 7 demonic spirits, and it still fascinates me to this day. Apparently, Pietro used the spirits to educate himself on matters of the Occult, which is how he came to know more than his peers in the field. When I was putting my piece together, I wanted to make each spirit possess its own personality and aura. You can see that each one is a little different; some only show one facial feature to indicate their size, whereas others fill out their whole vessel, indicating the largeness of their personality. I thought about vices such as greed, wrath and jealousy, but I also thought of the ways in which spirits could be used: excessive charm, manipulation and vengeful wraiths. Tell me what you think in the comments!
According to a passage in Henry Cornelius Agrippa of Netteshiem’s The Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy, the swirl of rumours surrounding the 7 spirits may have been a trigger to the events of his death. Whilst the extract is short, I’d definitely recommend reading it if you’re interested in this post because it’s an excellent example of sensationalism that pulls you in and gives you an idea of the world in which Pietro was “reputed to be confederate with devils”. He explains how the strength of belief in those rumours led to him being investigated for heresy, but when he was supposed to be hanged he substituted an ass to take his place. He was also investigated by the Inquisition of Padua a while later, but he died in prison before his trial could take place. The Inquisition wanted to make more of an example of him in order to deter any followers or admirers he had garnered over time, and ordered his body to be exhumed and publicly burned. However, they were unpleasantly surprised to find that his body had already been moved; the book claims it was by “a loyal female servant”, but others say it was by a group of his friends and that they buried him in St. Augustin’s Church without an epitaph. Either way, Pietro managed to escape the final wrath of the Inquisition relatively unscathed.
Whether you believe in the rumours or not, I’m sure you can agree that there is something truly captivating about Pietro’s story. Europe during the 1200s was plagued with uncertainty and anxiety, and the friction between religion, science and magic was only just beginning to take shape. Pietro may very well have had a darker interest in the Occult, but he also could have been one of the many examples of someone seeking knowledge and going to extreme lengths to bring it to more people’s attention.
I really hope you enjoyed this post and reading about a slightly obscure figure from Italian history. Be sure to check out the following pieces in the series this week, and you’ll be able to purchase both of my illustrations in a mini bundle from my shop this weekend!