Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Roman de la Rose
France, Rouen, ca. 1525
MS M.948. Fol. 061r

See more information »

Roman de la Rose: Wheel of Fortune -- Woman, representing Personification of Fortune, nude, blindfolded, winged and with winged feet, stands on ball with left hand resting on hip and with right hand turning crank of wheel around which are four male figures, one ascending the rim, the second as crowned king, wearing heraldic garment of fleur-de-lis, holding scepter on top, the third descending the rim, and the fourth, grasping the bottom rim.
To right, woman, representing Personification of Reason, crowned, wearing diadem and necklace, extends right hand toward the wheel, looks toward Lover, wearing feathered cap, raising right hand to breast.Miniature within architectual frame hung with tassels and with decorative scrollwork.