Study for the Figure of Fortune in "The Discoverer" Fresco, Assembly Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, New York 1878

Curator: Here we have a study by William Morris, dating back to 1878. It’s titled "Study for the Figure of Fortune in 'The Discoverer' Fresco." Editor: Oh, she's ethereal, isn't she? Almost like a sketch of a dream. There's a hesitant quality in the lines, a gentle uncertainty, despite her being Fortune. Curator: Interesting take. Morris, known for his intricate designs, here presents a more classical, almost Renaissance-like figure. The fresco was intended for the Albany State Capitol. Notice the wings and the gesture of beneficence? Editor: Yes, but there’s a tension. She's offering something, but her expression is almost melancholy. Perhaps Morris saw Fortune as a fickle mistress, something not entirely joyful? Curator: It's a compelling interpretation. The visual language does seem to suggest a more ambivalent relationship with the concept of Fortune. Editor: It makes you wonder about the full fresco and the role she plays within it. I’m left pondering the very nature of luck. Curator: Indeed. It seems Morris invites us to question what we perceive as good fortune and its inherent complexities.