Artwork
The Fates
The Fates is a print by Vincenzio Benucci. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Fates is a print based on a design by Michelangelo, executed by Vincenzio Benucci in 1850.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the three Fates from mythology, associated with destiny. They are shown huddled together, with the central figure holding scissors and the right-hand figure lifting a spindle, symbolizing their roles in weaving and cutting the thread of life.
Technique & Style
The print features deeply etched lines, emphasizing the figures' faces and simple, draped clothing against a dark background. The level of detail highlights the skill of the engraver, Vincenzio Benucci.
Context
The Latin inscription below the figures references Michelangelo's original design, indicating that the Fates are depicted as spinning 'immortal life'.
Artist & collection
Artist
This 19th-century printmaker carved crisp lines into mythic scenes. His only confirmed work here, *The Fates*, threads classical threads across a single sheet—Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos—each figure coiled in fate’s…
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