Fortune

1632·Etching on cream laid paper·23.7 × 14.5 cm (9 3/8 × 5 3/4 in.)

<p>Fortune, the goddess of chance and luck, accidentally spills her coin purse out into the heavens, an act that symbolizes the goddess’s arbitrary nature. A winged putto alerts Fortune to this act of blind fate by pulling her hair back from her eyes. Cantarini likely completed this print while under the tutelage in Mantua of his mentor, Guido Reni (Italian, 1575–1642). Reni was widely known for his painting of Fortune, and several etchings, including this one, were made after its likeness. But the two artists later grew estranged. Cantarini’s squabbles continued; he later assaulted a Mantuan painter, who may have retaliated by poisoning him.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1632
Medium: Etching on cream laid paper
Dimensions: 23.7 × 14.5 cm (9 3/8 × 5 3/4 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: Simone Cantarini

Artist

Simone Cantarini

Painting

Simone Cantarini or Simone da Pesaro, called il Pesarese was an Italian painter and etcher. He is known mainly for his history paintings and portraits executed in an original style, which united aspects of Bolognese classicism with a bold naturalism.

Italy

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