Anonimo - O tempo bono

Ensemble Micrologus

picture
From an edition of Boccaccio's "De Casibus Virorum Illustrium" (Paris, 1467) MSS Hunter 371-372 (V.1.8-9). Image (vol. 1: folio 1r)

Fortune's Wheel

From Wikipedia: The concept of Rota Fortuna arose in antiquity. The Wheel originally belonged to the Roman goddess Fortuna, whose name seems to derive from Vortumna, "she who revolves the year". Fortuna eventually became Christianized: the Roman philosopher Boethius (d. 524) was a major source for the medieval view of the Wheel, writing about it in his Consolatio Philosophiae:

"I know how Fortune is ever most friendly and alluring to those whom she strives to deceive, until she overwhelms them with grief beyond bearing, by deserting them when least expected … Are you trying to stay the force of her turning wheel? Ah! dull-witted mortal, if Fortune begin to stay still, she is no longer Fortune."

~ Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy

The Wheel was widely used as an allegory in medieval literature and art to aid religious instruction. Though classically Fortune's Wheel could be favourable and disadvantageous, medieval writers preferred to concentrate on the tragic aspect, dwelling on downfall of the mighty -- serving to remind people of the temporality of earthly things.

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• Ensemble
• Micrologus

[pele6922]

any description for the painting available? thanks

[theprof1958]

@pele6922

Thank you for the comment

I have updated the "more information" section

[Frasiabella]

i micrologus sonos emrpe i milgliori!

[girfalco]

Napoli aragonese!