Mélancolie, illusion diabolique et création poétique

The sixteenth century inherited three discourses on melancholy: the medical, philosophical, and religious ones. While first presented it as a mental illness linked to disorder of humours, second, with rediscovery Aristotle’s Problem XXX, saw sign creative genius, third reminded us that was, according Saint Jerome’s expression, balneum diaboli; allowed Satan take possession patient’s mind, causing him hallucinate. So how can we distinguish melancholy genius from pathology same name, especially when latter is associated devil? devil’s ability create illusory worlds border between dream reality coincides Renaissance artists’works populated by ghosts, monsters, witches demons. Could not these scenes, both manifestations devil projections hallucinated be figure melancholic artist?