Secret Societies and the Hermetic Code : The Rosicrucian, Masonic, and Esoteric Transmission in the Arts

In "Secret Societies and the Hermetic Code", Ernesto Frers presents a virtual museum of artistic works that contain occult secrets. The scope of his research ranges from the paintings of Byzantine icons to Salvador Dali, from mystery sites such as the Pyramids to the architecture of Andrea Palladio's Villa Cornaro. He also discusses the hermetic influence on music evidenced in the works of Mozart through to the modern era of rock and roll. Frers explains that all cultures encode in their architecture, art and music the instructions and diagram of their esoteric ritual and faith. He shows how during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the Church's severe censure of anything antithetical to its dogma forced artists to conceal mystical references within the religious images or scenes they depicted.By examining works that have not received such scrutiny before, including those of Titian, di Cosimo, Botticelli and Rembrandt, Frers brings to light the symbols and cryptic messages hidden in these masterworks. He presents his evidence using more than 100 colour and black-and-white images to reveal the mysteries contained in these works of art. He also extends his investigation to the occult leanings of modern-day musicians such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Led Zepplin. The author's subject matter ranges from paintings of Byzantine icons to Salvador Dali, music from Mozart to Satanic Rock and mystery sites from the Pyramids to Andrea Palladio's Villa Cornaro. The book includes more than 100 colour and black-and-white images that reveal the mysteries contained in these artistic works.