Fortune
1541
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
Artist
Sebald Beham
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
See the richer artist page1541
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Fortune is a 1541 by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This painting depicts a woman with wings, dressed in a flowing robe, standing on a globe. She holds a large wheel in her right hand and a long stem with leaves in her left. The background features a body of water with a ship and a town on the shore. The woman's attire and the presence of the wheel suggest a sense of movement and change. The woman's wings and the globe beneath her feet imply a connection to the heavens and the earth. The wheel she holds may symbolize the cyclical nature of fortune, which is fitting given the title of the painting. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figure. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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