Het Roomse Rad van Avontuur, 1705 1706 - 1707

Carel Allard created this print, "The Roman Wheel of Fortune," around 1705. A wheel dominates the scene, featuring figures symbolizing various states and professions, arranged around a nude Fortuna at the center. The wheel is an ancient motif, seen in classical depictions of the goddess Fortuna. Turning, it represents the capricious nature of fate, lifting some to glory while casting others down. This concept echoes in literature and art across centuries, such as the medieval "Rota Fortunae," found in illuminated manuscripts. The presence of Fortuna herself, standing precariously on a globe, harkens back to ancient Roman ideals of fortune’s influence over human affairs. Yet, here, her nakedness and vulnerability might also suggest the inherent instability of earthly power. The image, therefore, isn't merely about chance; it's a commentary on the transience of human endeavors. This visual language, inherited from antiquity, persists because it touches something primal—our deep-seated anxiety about control and our perpetual dance with destiny.