Tobacco box
Not on view
Oval box; its lid shows a landscape scene with two men shaking hands; one of them is reclining. At the left the personification of fortune can be seen, standing on a globe and holding a billowing sail. Inscribed below: Soo lang t' fortuijn u dient sal u geen vrint onbreken (As long as fortune is with you, you won't lack friends).
The underside carries another outdoor scene. A distressed-looking man, his head in his hand, is seated next to a tree. His friend and the figure of fortune are shown leaving him. Inscribed below: Maar als t' fortuijn eens keert dan is u vrint geweken (But when fortune turns around your friend will be gone).
With lined rims, molded edges, and plain sides. A tobacco box with the same inscription but with slightly different illustrations is in the collection of Het Nederlands Openluchtmuseum, Arnhem. A similar text was used as a porch inscription in Gronichem (Gorinchem); see Hieronymus Sweerts, Koddige en ernstige opschriften op luyffins, wagens, glazrn, uythangborden, en andere taferelen (Amsterdam, 1682-90) II, p. 113.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.