A fan with a rebus on Love on one side Fortune on the other
Text on one side relating to Fortune:
Fortuna e dormi
If you’re lucky, you sleep
Ogni [unghie] uno balla a cui la [Aquila] Fortuna suona
Everyone dances for whom Fortune plays
Chi ha la [ala] Fortuna ogni [unghie] tantin [ta tino] di chiave, basti
For him who has luck, any little turn of the key is enough.
Ognuno [unghie] sa navicar [navi car] quando fa sol [do, fa, sol] e vento
Everyone knows how to sail when there is sun and wind
Migliore [miglio re] è un’oncia di fortuna che due libbre di sapere [sa pere]
Better an ounce of luck than two pounds of wisdom
Più fortuna che seno [senno]
More luck than sense.
Text on other side relating to Love
Ove [uove] è Amore è fedeltà
Where there is love, there is fidelity
Amor solicito [soli cito] è segreto [sega reto]
Solicitous Love is secret
Dove [D uove] è Amore è gelosia
Wherever there is Love, there is jealousy
Amore è cieco e vede di lontano
Love is blind and sees from afar
Amore passa il guanto e l’acqua li stivali
Love passes the glove and water passes the boots
Amor Amore [amo re], tu sei la mia rovina
Love, you are my ruin.
Fortuna e dormi
If you’re lucky, you sleep
Ogni [unghie] uno balla a cui la [Aquila] Fortuna suona
Everyone dances for whom Fortune plays
Chi ha la [ala] Fortuna ogni [unghie] tantin [ta tino] di chiave, basti
For him who has luck, any little turn of the key is enough.
Ognuno [unghie] sa navicar [navi car] quando fa sol [do, fa, sol] e vento
Everyone knows how to sail when there is sun and wind
Migliore [miglio re] è un’oncia di fortuna che due libbre di sapere [sa pere]
Better an ounce of luck than two pounds of wisdom
Più fortuna che seno [senno]
More luck than sense.
Text on other side relating to Love
Ove [uove] è Amore è fedeltà
Where there is love, there is fidelity
Amor solicito [soli cito] è segreto [sega reto]
Solicitous Love is secret
Dove [D uove] è Amore è gelosia
Wherever there is Love, there is jealousy
Amore è cieco e vede di lontano
Love is blind and sees from afar
Amore passa il guanto e l’acqua li stivali
Love passes the glove and water passes the boots
Amor Amore [amo re], tu sei la mia rovina
Love, you are my ruin.
Artwork Details
- Title: A fan with a rebus on Love on one side Fortune on the other
- Artist: Stefano della Bella (Italian, Florence 1610–1664 Florence)
- Date: ca. 1639
- Medium: Etching fashioned to form a fan with fringe around the edges and wooden handle
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Estate of Florance Waterbury, 1970
- Object Number: 1970.610
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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