Jan 22
The Roll of Faith
Artist: Walter Crane (British, 1845–1915)
Date: 1882
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Private Collection
Description
An angel attempting to alter the course of events by preventing Time from unrolling the scroll on which the destiny of mankind is recorded. It illustrates two verses from Edward FitzGerald's translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
XCVIII Would but some wingéd Angel ere too late Arrest the yet unfolded Roll of Fate, And make the stern Recorder otherwise Enregister, or quite obliterate!
XCIX Ah, Love! could you and I with Him conspire To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire, Would not we shatter it to bits--and then Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!
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