Getty Museum
Boccaccio and Fortune
Creator
Boucicaut MasterFrench Illuminator · 1390–1430
All works by this person →In the early 1400s, the Boucicaut Master was the leading master of manuscript illumination in Paris and one of the most influential artists working in the International style in northern Europe. The Boucicaut Master appears to have supervised a talented team of artists who produced manuscripts commissioned by the king of France, high-ranking aristocrats, and the wealthy bourgeoisie. He probably al
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1413–1415
- Medium
- Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink
- Culture
- French
- Department
- Manuscripts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
On the right, the allegorical figure of Fortune appears before Boccaccio, the author of the book. The artist partially followed Boccaccio's text, which describes Fortune as having wings and multiple arms. The wings attest to Fortune's flightiness and swiftness, while her many arms indicate that no one can escape her grasp. The text goes on to say, however, that she is a hideous monster, whereas the artist chose to depict her as a beautiful courtly lady. Functioning as an author portrait, the image shows Boccaccio in profile and dressed as a scholar. He sits at a circular writing desk, which turns to allow easy access to his reference books. The confrontation of the author with Fortune corresponds to a recurrent theme in Boccaccio's narratives: the power of Fortune over humankind.
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