Denis Zachaire
Encyclopedia
Denis Zachaire is the pseudonym
of a 16th century alchemist
who spent his life and family fortune in a futile search for the Philosopher's Stone
and the elusive Elixir of Life
.
under the care of a tutor hired by the family. The tutor was obsessed with alchymie and the Magnum Opus
, and Zachaire quickly found himself caught up in the hysteria, pouring vast amounts of his parents' money into the mystic crucible
. Labouring tirelessly in unhealthy smoke
-filled chambers, Zachaire and his tutor spent 200 crowns in less than a year at which point the tutor died of heat stroke and his parents reduced his allowance. After returning home to mortgage his inheritance, Zachaire took up with a "Philosopher" and later with a monk, both of whom help him spend whatever gold he had left.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of a 16th century alchemist
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
who spent his life and family fortune in a futile search for the Philosopher's Stone
Philosopher's stone
The philosopher's stone is a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals into gold or silver. It was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For many centuries, it was the most sought-after goal...
and the elusive Elixir of Life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
.
Pursuit of alchemy
Born in 1510 to a noble and ancient family of Guienne, Zachaire was sent to school at a young age in BordeauxBordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
under the care of a tutor hired by the family. The tutor was obsessed with alchymie and the Magnum Opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, and Zachaire quickly found himself caught up in the hysteria, pouring vast amounts of his parents' money into the mystic crucible
Crucible
A crucible is a container used for metal, glass, and pigment production as well as a number of modern laboratory processes, which can withstand temperatures high enough to melt or otherwise alter its contents...
. Labouring tirelessly in unhealthy smoke
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
-filled chambers, Zachaire and his tutor spent 200 crowns in less than a year at which point the tutor died of heat stroke and his parents reduced his allowance. After returning home to mortgage his inheritance, Zachaire took up with a "Philosopher" and later with a monk, both of whom help him spend whatever gold he had left.
Further reading
- Tenney L. Davis, "The Autobiography of Denis Zachaire", in Isis, nov. 1925, vol. 8, 2 pp. 287–299.
- E. J. Holmyard, L'Alchimie, trad. Arthaud, 1979, p. 264-270.
- Armand Lattes, Un alchimiste gascon : Denis Zachaire (1510–1556), Académie des Sciences, Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres de Toulouse, Série 18, Tome 5, Vol. 166, 5 décembre 2004, pp. 25–28.
- Renan Crouvizier, L'authenticité de l'opuscule attribué à maistre D.Zecaire, Chrysopoeia, n° I, Collège de France, 1995.