VERONESE, Paolo
(b. 1528, Verona, d. 1588, Venezia)

Fortune

1560-61
Fresco
Villa Barbaro, Maser

The ceiling painting in the Stanza del Cane shows that fortune cannot be obtained by force: a crowned figure accompanied by a lion tries to wrest the cornucopia from Fortune, who is seated on a globe, while a third figure turns aside, concealing a knife in her breast. A possible interpretation of these figures could be that they represent Pride and Deceit.

There are two scenes on the sides of the entablature. The first depicts Saturn and History (at top of this reproduction), the second, Fate Crowning a Sleeping Man (bottom).