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The second key therein

This alchemical illustration represents the Second Key. In the center stands a nude, winged, and crowned male figure representing Mercury. He holds a caduceus, a staff entwined with two serpents, in each hand. Above his crown is the astrological symbol for Mercury. To the left, a man in 17th-century clothing holds a staff with a single crowned serpent. To the right, another man turns away, shielding his eyes while a small bird sits on the blade of his sword. A radiant sun with a face is visible between the central figure's legs. Beneath his feet, a large pair of bird-like wings lies on the ground. This symbolizes the "fixation of the volatile," a process of making a fleeting substance stable.