Allegory of Fortune
Salvator Rosa·1658
Historical Context
Fortune, the fickle goddess who controls human destiny, appears in allegorical form in this 1658 painting at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Rosa"s allegorical paintings express the philosophical pessimism that pervades much of his work—the conviction that human life is subject to forces beyond rational control. The Getty Museum"s collection of Italian Baroque painting includes several works that demonstrate the period"s engagement with philosophical and moral themes.
Technical Analysis
The allegorical figure of Fortune dominates the composition, her attributes and gestures conveying the concept of unpredictable destiny. Rosa renders the figure with a combination of classical idealization and baroque drama, the flowing drapery and dynamic pose creating visual movement. The palette contrasts the bright, almost supernatural quality of the allegorical figure with the darker surroundings. The brushwork shows Rosa"s versatility, handling both the idealized figure and the atmospheric background with equal assurance.
