Allegory of Fortune: Exploring Themes in Painting and Literature

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of Salvator Rosa's 'Allegory of Fortune,' exploring its themes and symbolism, particularly the concept of fortune showering upon the undeserving. The essay connects the painting's satirical attack on undeserved power with Machiavelli's 'The Prince,' which discusses how rulers acquire and maintain power, and Cervantes' 'Don Quixote,' where the protagonist's actions highlight the misuse of bestowed titles. The painting's modern and practical concept is reflected in the literary pieces, demonstrating the painter's protest against those unfit to preside over power. The essay examines the painting's depiction of Fortuna, the goddess of fortune, and the destruction of valuable gifts by those who do not understand their importance. The essay aims to demonstrate the interconnectedness of art and literature, specifically how visual art can comment on and reflect the themes explored in literary works.

Allegory of Fortune

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................4

Introduction
The study focuses of the relevance of the painting “Allegory of Fortune” with the literary pieces
of ‘The Prince’ and ‘Don Quixote’. The theme of “showering on the undeserved” has been
intertwined and explained in both the literary pieces, which belong to two different scenarios and
periods.
Discussion
The painting personifies the Goddess of Fortune as in "Fortuna | Roman Goddess", showering
wealth and riches on the undeserving animals. The painting further shows that the undeserving
animals do not understand the importance of the gifts and destroys them. According to “Allegory
of Fortune” Rosa, the theme of the painting is a satirical attack on Pope Alexander VII, who is
unfit to preside over the power he is given. The Goddess of Fortune showers gemstones, gold
coins, pearls; roses and so on denote valuable knowledge and art, which the animals are
destroying. The painter paints this painting in protest for losing his papal patronage. The theme
of "showering on the undeserved" has been highlighted in two literary works, The Prince and
Don Quixote.
According to the story of Cervantes, Don Quixote was a middle-aged man who was inspired
from the books of chivalry and aimed to set out on adventures to defeat the evil and help the
helpless. In the second half, the character goes through a drastic change having failed his first
expedition, he turns into a bandit who steals from the poor, tortures them.The actions of Don
Quixote exaggerate the common public, and they stand in protest against him. According to

“Don Quixote: Theme” Cervantes, Don Quixote instead of changing himself perceives that the
protest was against his knighthood. After many episodes, Don Quixote finally dies from a fever
in the most unchivalric manner. Don Quixote was bestowed a title of knighthood, which he did
not deserve. A knight is supposed to protect its people and govern them in the best interests of
the people. Instead, he chooses to use his knighthood to fulfill his own desires, and fuel his
pretence of a chivalric knight. The theme of the story is directly connected with the exhibit in
this manner.
Another literary piece is The Prince, by Machiavelli, which discusses the ways of conduct of a
Prince to acquire and maintain political standing. Machiavelli wrote this book to guide Lorenzo
de Medici, who was a complete despot to keep his standing as the ruler of Florence. According
to The Prince Machiavelli, the book was written during a time when the political condition of
Florence was chaotic and a sudden change in the conditions of the country was expected.
Lorenzo de Medici was the heir of the Medici family who reined Florence for ages. Although
Lorenzo had the political advantage of his family name at his disposition, he could not control
his subjects and his nobleman. Girolamo Savanorola soon overthrew him from his power. In this
background story of The Prince, it is evident that Lorenzo received the position of the ruler by
fortune and did not deserve it as he was lacking in quality. In this way, The Prince also follows
the same theme of the exhibit “Allegory of Fortune”,
Conclusion
The painting of Allegory of Fortune has a very different image than the traditional image of the
Goddess of Fortune. The painting beholds a very modern and practical concept, which is seemed
to reflect in the two literary pieces “the Prince” and “Don Quixote”.

References
"Fortuna | Roman Goddess". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fortuna-Roman-goddess. Accessed 9 Dec 2018.
Cervantes, Miguel de. "Sparknotes: Don Quixote: Themes". Sparknotes.Com, 2018,
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/donquixote/themes/. Accessed 9 Dec 2018.
Machiavelli, Niccolò. "Book Summary". Cliffsnotes.Com, 2018,
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/the-prince/book-summary. Accessed 9 Dec 2018.
Rosa, Salvator. "Allegory Of Fortune (Getty Museum)". The J. Paul Getty In Los Angeles, 2018,
http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/822/dosso-dossi-giovanni-di-niccolo-de-lutero-
allegory-of-fortune-italian-about-1530/. Accessed 9 Dec 2018.