Fortuna, fragment, in red

Exquisite handmade basrelief in terracotta painted with red engobe, following antique techniques.

The winged goddess sculpted here is the Roman Fortuna, as shown by the insignia on her shoulder, and it is the personification not of the men’s destiny but of what they could come across and have to answer to. The goddess holds the horn of plenty, from which she gives out goods and presents to men; but she uses a ball too, pictured inside the horn spiral, which she throws at will. Nobody can foresee where a ball will bounce: the goddess Fortuna can spread her wings and fly away at any moment.

Given its firing at about  1000° C, the sculpture can be placed outside and won't be damaged by sun, cold or ice.