Fortune-telling tracts
Unkown artist

The drawing of Plato and Socrates in this manuscript of fortune-telling texts is curious in that the artist has reversed their roles: Socrates, who famously wrote nothing, is shown holding a pen; while Plato, whose beautifully written dialogues are the primary source for Socrates’ life and thought, seems to be dictating to him. The similarity the drawing bears to the engraving in Bocchi’s engraving on the left is superficial but nevertheless striking. In the latter Socrates’s daimon provides artistic inspiration; here, Socrates is an intermediary between divine fortune and the textual prophecies contained in the manuscript.

MS. Ashmole 304, fols. 31v–32r


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Image total size 25.0 x 16.8 cm
Print total size 29.0 x 20.8 cm
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The reproduction is rolled in a rigid tube for shipping.
Fine Art Giclée printing is commonly used at a professional level for the reproduction of works of art. The inkjet printing technique uses natural pigments which are highly light-resistant. We use a special 260g/m2 matte Fine Art paper for high-quality reproductions.
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