The artwork titled “Four Allegories: Fortune (or Melancholy)” is an oil painting on wood, created by Giovanni Bellini around the year 1490. It belongs to the Early Renaissance period and measures 34 by 22 centimeters. This piece is part of Bellini’s series “Four Allegories” and falls within the genre of allegorical painting.
The artwork depicts a woman seated on a boat, holding a large, spherical object, likely symbolizing Fortune or perhaps Melancholy, as suggested by the title. The scene is animated by several cherubic figures around her, some of whom are in the water. The background features a serene landscape with rolling hills and a tower under a sky fading from light to darkness, indicating either dawn or dusk. The woman’s flowing white attire and the dramatic lighting help to highlight the allegorical nature of the composition. This painting, like others in the series, communicates deeper philosophical meanings through its intricate symbolism and the serene yet evocative setting typical of the Early Renaissance aesthetic.
