The Wheel of Fortune, symbol of the fickleness of
human fortune, has been represented in mosaics since the Roman times.
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| Pompeii, 1st century AD |
When this unique Roman Wheel of Fortune spins, the rich (symbolised by the purple cloth on the left) becomes poor, and the
poor (symbolised by the skin of a goat on the right) rich.
Life, however, is very precarious, death is lurking at every moment, suspended by a thread; if it breaks, the soul - symbolized by the butterfly - flies away.
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| Siena Duomo, 1372 |
Earliest panel of the Siena Duomo, the Wheel of Fortune was built in 1372. It was restored in the 1860s with many of its marble
inlays replaced, worn nearly featureless by centuries of tramping
pilgrims and tourists.
 | |
| Koelner Dom, 1887 |
In this modern Wheel of Fortune mosaic (quite similar to the previous one) from the Cologne Cathedral (designed in 1885) a young man uses
all his strength to spin the wheel of fortune. As
the wheel turns, he is first carried upwards by a spoke of the
wheel, experiences elation as he gets his heart’s desire, and is then
carried downwards again. As the cycle begins again, the man
contemplates the hand Fortune has dealt him.
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| New York, 20th century |
Closer to us 20th century
mosaic is located at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue Subway Station in
New York.
I
am a modern mosaic artist with a deep admiration for ancient Greek,
Roman and Byzantine Arts. You can see some of my own mosaics on my
site mosaicblues.
If you are interested by my work in general
or
if you would simply like to drop me a line, please
contact me by email at frederic.lecut@mosaic.com
or by phone at (334) 798 1639.
You can also
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