Point of View #10

“Point of View # 10 showcases an allegorical depiction of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune and fate, a small panel by an anonymous, probably Florentine, artist that has recently been restored. The popular subject changes and evolves over the centuries. Our Fortuna is a charming winged young woman balancing on a wheel and scattering both welcome and unwelcome gifts: crown, sceptre and laurel wreath symbolize power, honour and glory, while the three-pronged objects on the left should probably be identified as thorns and represent pain and suffering.

Although there is no proof, the composition is frequently connected with Michelangelo. It is preserved in several versions attributed to artists active at the Medici court in Florence in the 1560s. Our Fortuna was probably also produced there. In this respect, too, her rediscovery is a piece of good fortune. The attribution to Michelangelo is not really surprising. The maestro inspired countless artists, and this probably explains the plethora of extant versions: everyone – at least in the 16^th century - wanted to own a copy of this popular “inventio”.

The Picture Gallery is happy to present for the first time the Viennese version of this popular 16^th century depiction of Fortuna.

In 2012 the Picture Gallery started a new series of exhibitions called „Points of View“, each focusing on an exceptional painting in our collection that is either rarely shown for lack of wall space, or where recent research offers new insights.