John of Rupescinna

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John of Rupescinna

d. 1362

French alchemist who in his Liber lucis (c. 1350) wrote about the therapeutic properties of the quintessence of wine, or alcohol. The work also contained an explanation of how to build an alchemical furnace. Also known as John of Roquetaillade, John wrote a number of works and was imprisoned several times by popes due to his denunciation of clerical abuses.