2020 Essays

To Corrode and Dissolve: Making Aquafortis in Ms. Fr. 640

Assis, Michael

This essay explores the ambiguous meanings of aquafortis, of its constituent ingredients, and of the units of measurement listed in “For making aquafortis” on fol. 75r. By situating the recipe within a broader historical context, aquafortis can be understood as a substance with the ability to interact with solids, and perform actions such as dissolve or corrode metals. Comparison of the recipe in Ms. Fr. 640 with contemporary textual sources gives insight into the variety of uses for aquafortis and the various ingredients for making it. This indicates that the term copperas refers to any sulfate (vitriol), and solle refers to salt (NaCl) rather than saltpeter. The genres of texts containing aquafortis recipes reveal that the recipes in Ms. Fr. 640 bear comparison with a variety of literary traditions: alchemical manuscripts, metallurgical treatises, treatises on arts, and books of secrets. Finally, the recipe for aquafortis on fol. 75r was reconstructed, which showed the efficacy of the recipe and its correspondence with contemporary expectations about aquafortis.