Fortuna zonder voeten, staande op een bol c. 1575 - 1580

"Fortuna zonder voeten, staande op een bol" (Fortune without Feet, Standing on a Sphere), a pen and ink drawing by Jan (I) Snellinck from c. 1575-1580, depicts the Roman goddess Fortuna as a winged figure standing precariously on a globe. Fortuna, who embodies luck and fortune, holds a rudder in her outstretched hand, a symbol of her power to steer human destiny. The drawing’s delicate lines and atmospheric background create a sense of both fragility and power, reflecting the unpredictable nature of fortune. This intimate drawing is characteristic of Snellinck’s style, which combines meticulous draftsmanship with a graceful, almost lyrical sensibility. The artwork is currently part of the Rijksmuseum collection.