Artwork
Winged Fortune
Winged Fortune is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist William Morris Hunt. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Winged Fortune is a preparatory painting for a figure in William Morris Hunt's mural, The Discoverer, at the New York state capitol in Albany. The work depicts Fortune as a winged woman guiding a vessel.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Fortune, is represented with symbolic attributes: a rudder in her left hand (guidance) and a subtle, gentle expression, conveying benevolence. Her winged form and flowing attire emphasize her mythological and directional role.
Technique & Style
Characterized by soft, delicate fabric folds and a subtle smile, the painting showcases Hunt's attention to detail in preparatory works. The style aligns with the era's approach to figurative and symbolic art in public murals.
History & Provenance
Created within a two-month period of intense preparation for The Discoverer mural, this study's existence underscores Hunt's planning process. The original mural, painted directly on the Assembly Chamber's vault, was later obscured by a new ceiling due to deterioration.
Context
Part of a larger mural project for a public, governmental space, Winged Fortune reflects the 19th-century practice of using mythological figures to represent abstract concepts in official art commissions.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Morris Hunt (March 31, 1824 – September 8, 1879) was an American painter.
