GODDESS FORTUNA Hand-Painted Silver Pendant on Onyx

This pendant showcases a hand-painted portrayal of the Roman goddess Fortuna, beautifully painted by the artist Tommaso Rossi on Onyx. Set in solid silver, the design captures Fortuna’s essence as the goddess of luck, fate, and fortune, often depicted with her cornucopia and wheel. The deep black Onyx background highlights the intricate details of the artwork, while the sterling silver setting adds an elegant touch. A blend of mythology and craftsmanship, this pendant offers a timeless piece of jewelry symbolizing luck and prosperity.

Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune and fate, is often depicted with symbols like a ship's rudder, representing guidance; a ball or Wheel of Fortune, symbolizing life's unpredictability; and a cornucopia, signifying abundance. She could grant both good and bad luck and was sometimes portrayed veiled and blind, emphasizing the impartiality of luck. Fortuna was associated with fate and, as Atrox Fortuna, was thought to have caused the deaths of Augustus' grandsons, Gaius and Lucius.

In personal and domestic contexts, Fortuna was linked to the Egyptian goddess Isis in the form of Isis-Fortuna, seen in an amulet from Pompeii. She shared ties with Bonus Eventus, her counterpart in bringing favorable outcomes, with both frequently appearing on amulets, coins, and engraved gems across the Roman world.

Tommaso Rossi is the talented young artist who creates these exquisite miniature portraits and mythical stories. Working on both marble and hard stone discs, he depicts historical and mythical figures from ancient Greece and Rome, using paints such as enamels, titanium acrylics and graphite. In his amazingly detailed technique, Tommaso employs either an echidna quill or a rose thorn instead of a brush to define the figures on these miniature masterpieces.
Born in Rome in 2000, Tommaso first attended art school on Via Ripetta and then, recognized for his superior talent, he entered the prestigious “Scuola dell’Arte della Medaglia”. This is an elite art school in Rome where only a small number of the finest young artists are carefully chosen for further training in the arts of engraving and plastic modeling.
For more than a century, exceptional artists have acquired additional skills through the use of ancient techniques, innovative methodologies, design and craftsmanship. Importance is also given to art history and conservation. Classical traditions are reimagined, merging Antiquity with present day culture.