Fate Collection

Snakes and ladders board game

HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, 1845
Engraving showing HMS Erebus (left) and HMS Terror, pictured on the River Thames, 1845. In 1845 the British Admiralty sent two polar exploration ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror

Captain Francis Crozier of HMS Terror, 1845
Engraving of Captain Francis Crozier (1796-1848) of HMS Terror, pictured shortly before departing on the ill-fated Franklin Arctic expedition of 1845

A Mermaid. Artist: Waterhouse, John William (1849-1917)
A Mermaid. Found in the collection of Royal Academy of Arts, London

Les Saltimbanques, 1874 (oil on canvas)
EDI187971 Les Saltimbanques, 1874 (oil on canvas) by Dore, Gustave (1832-83); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Fortuna by Ernest Board
Painting depicting a blindfolded woman playing a fateful game of cards. Date: 1911

Captain Sir John Franklin (1786-1847)
Engraving of Captain Sir John Franklin in his Royal Navy uniform, pictured shortly before departing on his ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845

Christ with Arms Folded, 1656-1661. Artist: Rembrandt van Rhijn (1606-1669)
Christ with Arms Folded, 1656-1661. Found in the collection of The Hyde Collection

The Enterprise and Investigator surrounded by ice, Barro
Engraving showing the Enterprise and Investigator surrounded by pack ice in Barrows Straits, September 1849. These two ships were used by Sir James Clark Rosss Expedition of 1848-1849 to search

The End of Sir John Franklins Arctic Expedition, 1845
Engraving showing the end of Sir John Franklins ill-fated Arctic expedition of 1845, entitled They Forged the last link with their lives. This engraving was taken from a painting by W

Tarot Card 10 - La Roue de Fortune (The Wheel of Fortune)

Tarot Card 10 - La Roue de Fortune (The Wheel of Fortune)

Sleeping Beauty by Arthur Rackham
Princess Briar Rose, aka Sleeping Beauty turns a key in the lock of a door, where she is about to meet the wicked old fairy, whose spindle will prick her finger sending her, and the royal household

Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513. Creator: Albrecht Durer
Knight, Death and the Devil, 1513

Destiny, 1900, (c1930). Creator: John William Waterhouse
Destiny, 1900, (c1930). Woman holding a glass bowl, with ships reflected in a large mirror behind; allegorical scene with spatial and temporal inconsistencies

The Temptation of Christ, ca 1885. Found in the collection of State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Ufos / Fate Cover 1958
This UFO, resembling an electric light bulb, is seen over San Francisco by D Bruce Berry and Marion Shepherd

Anti-Communist Card
DEIN LOS UNTER DEM SOVIET SYSTERN - your fate under the Soviet system - you and your family will be driven from your burning home to Siberia

Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee, 1570. Artist: Veronese, Paolo (1528-1588)
Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee, 1570. Found in the collection of the Musee de l Histoire de France

A traditional custom, Montlucon, France, 1900. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 1st April 1900

Accident- Snow from Roof
A REGULAR DAMPER - AND NO MISTAKE Having left an exhibition on Swiss avalanches a tatty man suffers a similar fate courtesy of a roof clearer !

Fortune Telling 1810
Two ladies inquire about their destinies at a fortune teller

"The ages of man" or "the scale of life", late 19th century (illustration)
AIS5363677 "The ages of man" or "the scale of life", late 19th century (illustration); (add.info.: "The ages of man" or "the scale of life")

Peter I of Castile (Pedro di Castilla) (1334-1369), known as Peter the Just or the Cruel, King of Castile and Leon
AIS5380079 Peter I of Castile (Pedro di Castilla) (1334-1369), known as Peter the Just or the Cruel, King of Castile and Leon, consults his astrologer, 1864 (painting); Museo de Cadiz

The Allegory of the City of Paris and Abundance. Anonymous painting, 1765 (oil on canvas)
JEB4853292 The Allegory of the City of Paris and Abundance. Anonymous painting, 1765 (oil on canvas); 122x165 cm; Palais de Longchamp, Marseille

How Nostradamus was able to prophesy the fate of the Kings of France to Catherine de Medici
3740678 How Nostradamus was able to prophesy the fate of the Kings of France to Catherine de Medici; (add.info.: Engraving depicting how Nostradamus (1503-1566)

The fate of England's sons who lived through service during the Napoleonic wars
5311782 The fate of England's sons who lived through service during the Napoleonic wars; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the fate of England's sons who lived through service during)

The Fate of the Sunday Excursionist, 1850
3478410 The Fate of the Sunday Excursionist, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration titled 'The Fate of the Sunday Excursionist' in the face of Sunday closing)

8621938

Representation of the Degrees of Man's Age' Engraving 1820 Civica raccolta delle stampe Bertarelli, Milan
BEN5478758 Representation of the Degrees of Man's Age' Engraving 1820 Civica raccolta delle stampe Bertarelli, Milan; Photo © Raffaello Bencini.

Engraving depicting Nostradamus, 19th century (engraving)
3077568 Engraving depicting Nostradamus, 19th century (engraving); (add.info.: Engraving depicting Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566) a French apothecary and reputed seer

Sea Adventure: The mystery of the "Mary Celeste" (colour litho)
8668774 Sea Adventure: The mystery of the "Mary Celeste" (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Representation of the four ages of life: childhood, youth, adulthood or age of manhood
BEN5478768 Representation of the four ages of life: childhood, youth, adulthood or age of manhood and old age' 19th century engraving Civica raccolta delle stampe Bertarelli

How Nostradamus was able to prophesy the fate of the Kings of France to Catherine de Medici
3740679 How Nostradamus was able to prophesy the fate of the Kings of France to Catherine de Medici; (add.info.: Engraving depicting how Nostradamus (1503-1566)

Head of the Figure of Fortune (engraving)
8622171 Head of the Figure of Fortune (engraving) by Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (1833-98) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Head of the Figure of Fortune)

Little Jean finding the Paper (colour litho)
8644893 Little Jean finding the Paper (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Little Jean finding the Paper)

Death comes for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, woodcut by Georg Scharffenberg
3501399 Death comes for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, woodcut by Georg Scharffenberg, from Der Todten Tanz or The Dance of Death pub

Megistias predicting the death of the company of Leonidas at Thermopylae (engraving)
8635033 Megistias predicting the death of the company of Leonidas at Thermopylae (engraving) by Leutemann, Heinrich (1824-1905); Private Collection; (add.info)

Loss of iron paddle-steamer troop ship 'Birkenhead' off Simon's Bay South Africa 26 February 1852
535483 Loss of iron paddle-steamer troop ship 'Birkenhead' off Simon's Bay South Africa 26 February 1852.; (add.info)

Girl with dog, 1924. Creator: Schrimpf, Georg (1889-1939)
Girl with dog, 1924. Private Collection

Infortunium (The Misfortune), 1541. Creator: Beham, Hans Sebald (1500-1550)
Infortunium (The Misfortune), 1541. Private Collection

Christ before Caiaphas. Creator: Campi, Antonio (around 1522-1587)
Christ before Caiaphas. Found in the Collection of the Galerie Canesso.

Psyche Opens the Fateful Box, between 1520 and 1535. Creators: Master of the Die, Michiel Coxie
Psyche Opens the Fateful Box, between 1520 and 1535. Series: The fable of Cupid and Psyche

King Charles XI's upbringing. Allegory, 1668. Creator: David Klocker Ehrenstrahl
King Charles XI's upbringing. Allegory, 1668

King Charles XI's guardian angel. Allegory, 1668. Creator: David Klocker Ehrenstrahl
King Charles XI's guardian angel. Allegory, 1668

The Three Fates, 1513. Creator: Hans Baldung
The Three Fates, 1513

Allegory of the birth of King Charles XI, 1668. Creator: David Klocker Ehrenstrahl
Allegory of the birth of King Charles XI, 1668

Lovers on the roof of a building, 1920. Creator: Devambez, André Victor Édouard (1867-1943)
Lovers on the roof of a building, 1920. Found in the collection of the Galerie Laurentin, Paris

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Fate: A Journey through Time and Destiny" In the year 1845, two mighty ships, HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, set sail on a treacherous voyage into the unknown. Led by Captain Francis Crozier of HMS Terror, they embarked on an Arctic expedition in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. Little did they know that their fate would be sealed amidst icy waters. As if guided by some mystical force, these brave explorers found themselves surrounded by an unforgiving sea of ice. The Enterprise and Investigator were trapped in this frozen prison known as Barrow Strait. It was a chilling reminder that even the mightiest vessels could succumb to nature's wrath. Captain Sir John Franklin himself had envisioned glory and triumph for his Arctic expedition. But alas, destiny had other plans in store for him. His dreams shattered like fragile ice beneath his feet as he faced the harsh reality of failure. Just like a tarot card depicting "La Roue de Fortune" (The Wheel of Fortune), fate spun its wheel relentlessly. It seemed both cruel and capricious - much like Fortuna herself - bestowing fortune upon some while casting others into despair. In this cosmic game of snakes and ladders played out upon life's vast board, one cannot help but wonder about our own destinies. Are we mere pawns at the mercy of unseen forces? Or do we possess agency to shape our own paths? Perhaps it is akin to Rembrandt van Rijn's painting "Christ with Arms Folded, " where divinity meets human vulnerability; where faith intertwines with free will. Like characters from Picasso's "Les Saltimbanques, " we perform our roles upon life's stage – sometimes triumphant, sometimes broken – all under Fate's watchful gaze. Yet amidst this dance between chance and choice lies hope – just as Arthur Rackham captured Sleeping Beauty awakening from her enchanted slumber.