Parca Lachesis, 1660

Lachesis, one of the Parcae (the Roman Fates) was believed to measure the length of each human life, while her sisters spun and cut the thread. In this 17th-century work, she appears alone, symbolizing luck and longevity, rather than destiny. Her floral headscarf, inspired by Eastern styles, reflects Bellotti's taste for fashionable detail. The subject was widely copied by the artist and his workshop.