Frontispiece- A Real Scene in St. Paul's Churchyard on a Windy Day c. 1770

Carington Bowles animated this print around the late 18th century. It depicts a blustery scene outside St. Paul’s, where chaos and comedy intertwine. Note the flying garments, symbols of disarray, echoing the classical motif of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, often depicted with billowing sails or windswept drapery representing life’s unpredictable nature. Here, it's not divine will, but rather a gust of wind causing the upheaval. Consider the toppled figure in the foreground, his wig askew, his composure lost. It evokes images of fallen heroes and the ever-present threat of humiliation. The wind, a motif of change and instability, sweeps through art history, and the anxiety it causes is deeply embedded in our collective memory, resurfacing in various forms throughout time. This simple street scene captures the human vulnerability, reminding us that even the most dignified among us are subject to the whims of fate and the forces of nature.