Omen Collection

Poe / Poem / The Raven / C19Th
Quoth the raven, Nevermore

Poe / Raven Flies In / Dore
A stately Raven of the saintly days of yore flies in through an open window

The Hand-Writing upon the Wall, James Gillray, 1803. Napoleon and Josephine, guarded by French soldiers, enjoy a feast of English riches. Napoleon looks on at writing

Titanic / Southampton 1912
A bad omen: as the Titanic leaves Southampton, the steamer New York accidentally breaks its moorings. Captain Smith stops Titanics engines and a collision is avoided

Cuchulain / Ill-Omen Raven
The raven of ill-omen comes to Cuchulain (Cu Chulainn)

Illustration for The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe, 1875 (litho)
XKH149247 Illustration for The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe, 1875 (litho) by Manet, Edouard (1832-83); On Loan to the Hamburg Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany; French, out of copyright

White Dove, Oxenham
At Oxenham house, Devon, a white dove was seen as an omen of woe relating to the head of the house who was away adventuring with Drake

Etruscan haruspex holding a bird in his right hand. In Etruscan religion, the haruspex found omens or augurs in the entrails of sacrificed animals. From an engraved cornelian gem. Haruspex Etruscus

Druidic Awenydd (Bardic disciple) and novice, from the pre-Roman era. In the background are British straw-roofed wooden cabins. The disciple carries a cup and a dove, bird of good omen

The Knave of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336587 The Knave of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

Chief of the Florida Indians consulting his magician (shaman) before going into battle
531164 Chief of the Florida Indians consulting his magician (shaman) before going into battle

Saint Stephen. Detail from The Preaching of Saint Stephen in Jerusalem'
BEN5461367 Saint Stephen. Detail from The Preaching of Saint Stephen in Jerusalem'. Painting by Vittore Carpaccio

Nuño Salido, Tutor of the Infantes
Nuno Salido, Tutor of the Infantes, Sees Evil Omens for Them in this War, 1612. Series: The History of the Seven Sons of Lara, pl. 20

Nuño Salido Insists that the Omens are Evil While Ruy Velazquez Insists that They are Good
Nuno Salido Insists that the Omens are Evil While Ruy Velazquez Insists that They are Good, 1612. From The History of the Seven Sons of Lara, pl. 21

Omen in the flight of birds, 1742-1801. Creator: Anon
Omen in the flight of birds, 1742-1801. Romulus and Remus are looking for an omen in a flight of birds

The Fatal Bellman, 1827. Creator: George Richmond
The Fatal Bellman, 1827. It was the owl that shriek'd the fatal bell-man'; scene from Shakespeare's Macbeth

The little Napoleon has a great idea (litho)
976587 The little Napoleon has a great idea (litho) by Skinner, Edward Frederick (1865-1924); Private Collection; (add.info.: The little Napoleon has a great idea)

The Red Phoenix
This Chinese painting on silk depicts the mythical phoenix creature

NORMAN CONQUEST 7 OF 16
Harold tells King Edward of his mission : Edward dies, naming Harold his successor : Harold is crowned, but astrologers interpret Halley's comet as an evil omen Date: 1066

Halley's Comet and Harold Receiving Bad News
XIR159137 Halley's Comet and Harold Receiving Bad News, Bayeux Tapestry (wool embroidery on linen) by English School, (11th century); Musee de la Tapisserie, Bayeux

The Hand-Writing upon the Wall
528679 The Hand-Writing upon the Wall, James Gillray, 1803. Napoleon and Josephine, guarded by French soldiers, enjoy a feast of English riches. Napoleon looks on at writing

Augur performing ex tripudiis ritual, ancient Rome. 1796 (engraving)
7236779 Augur performing ex tripudiis ritual, ancient Rome. 1796 (engraving) by Labrousse, L.F. (fl.1796); Private Collection; (add.info.: Augur, priest and official of ancient Rome)

Haruspex reading the entrails of a sacrificed sheep, ancient Rom 1796 (engraving)
7236782 Haruspex reading the entrails of a sacrificed sheep, ancient Rom 1796 (engraving) by Labrousse, L.F

The Raven of Ill-omen, illustration from Cuchulain
STC323913 The Raven of Ill-omen, illustration from Cuchulain, The Hound of Ulster, by Eleanor Hull (1860-1935), 1904 (colour litho) by Reid

The Dream of the Magi, 12th century (stained glass)
PC84864 The Dream of the Magi, 12th century (stained glass) by English School, (12th century); Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, Kent, UK; English, out of copyright

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Augure; Augur; Augurium (engraving)
7194776 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Augure; Augur; Augurium (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Augure; Augur; Augurium)

An instrument of worship (Lithuus), 1st 2nd century (low relief)
7076295 An instrument of worship (Lithuus), 1st 2nd century (low relief) by Roman, (1st-2nd Century AD); Musee Narbo Via, Narbonne

The Ides of March, 44 BC (colour litho)
5996180 The Ides of March, 44 BC (colour litho) by Poynter, Edward John (1836-1919); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Ides of March, 44 BC)

Title Page for King Charls his Starre: Or, Astrologie defined
488986 Title Page for King Charls his Starre: Or, Astrologie defined and defended by Scripture, &c

The King of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336589 The King of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Ace of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336595 The Ace of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The King of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336591 The King of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Knight of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336584 The Knight of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Seven of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336566 The Seven of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Ten of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336553 The Ten of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

Female Head (pen, ink, brush & w / c on paper)
833403 Female Head (pen, ink, brush & w/c on paper) by Modigliani, Amedeo (1884-1920); Private Collection; Italian, out of copyright

The Knave of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336593 The Knave of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Ace of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336590 The Ace of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Knight of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336586 The Knight of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Knave of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336579 The Knave of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Nine of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336564 The Nine of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Two of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336575 The Two of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

A street crowd in Mexico City observing Halleys Comet, April 1910 (b / w photo)
STC375610 A street crowd in Mexico City observing Halleys Comet, April 1910 (b/w photo) by Casasola

Pair of Qilin, Qianlong period (1736-95) (cloisonne & champleve enamel with gilt metal
HSC272142 Pair of Qilin

The Knave of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336585 The Knave of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

German edition of the Lenormand French cartomancy deck: The Rider, The Clover, The Ship
KJN336533 German edition of the Lenormand French cartomancy deck: The Rider, The Clover, The Ship, The House, published by Dondorf, Frankfurt, 19th Century (colour litho) by French School

The Eight of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336565 The Eight of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Ten of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336542 The Ten of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

Sketches at the Waterloo Coursing Meeting, Altcar, near Liverpool (engraving)
1626293 Sketches at the Waterloo Coursing Meeting, Altcar, near Liverpool (engraving) by Wain, Louis (1860-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches at the Waterloo Coursing Meeting, Altcar)

Belshazzars Feast, c. 1600
BON78187 Belshazzars Feast, c.1600 by Mutter, Jan Harmensz. (1570-1625) (follower of); 101.7x127 cm; Private Collection; Photo eBonhams, London, UK; Dutch, out of copyright

The horse of Alboin, King of the Lombards
5229139 The horse of Alboin, King of the Lombards, falling as he enters the city of Pavia, 572 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The horse of Alboin)

The Flying Dutchman (chromolitho)
3100703 The Flying Dutchman (chromolitho) by Spanish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Flying Dutchman)

Vadersolstavlan, 1636 (oil on panel)
LEE57749 VAadersolstavlan, 1636 (oil on panel) by Elbfas, Jacob Heinrich (c.1600-1664); 163x110 cm; Stockholm

The Queen of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336552 The Queen of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Three of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336549 The Three of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Four of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336548 The Four of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Queen of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336592 The Queen of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Knight of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336588 The Knight of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The King of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336581 The King of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The King of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336580 The King of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Seven of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336572 The Seven of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Four of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336560 The Four of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Seven of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336556 The Seven of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Ace of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336551 The Ace of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Seven of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336545 The Seven of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

Bird of Portent, an illustration from L Odyssee, by Homer
STC386307 Bird of Portent, an illustration from L Odyssee, by Homer, translated by Victor Berard, 1929-33 (colour litho) by Schmied

Albatross, pub. London 1810 (coloured lithograph)
955616 Albatross, pub

Presages of the Millennium, published 1795 (hand coloured etching)
FIT167669 Presages of the Millennium, published 1795 (hand coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); 32.5x37.6 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

The Knight of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336594 The Knight of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Ace of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336576 The Ace of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Six of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336558 The Six of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Eight of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336555 The Eight of Cups, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Queen of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336583 The Queen of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Queen of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336582 The Queen of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Nine of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336570 The Nine of Coins, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Six of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336567 The Six of Wands, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

The Two of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck
AGD336550 The Two of Swords, facsimile of a tarot card from the Visconti deck, 1441-47 (colour litho) by Bembo

Attila the Hun interpreting a stork and its young flying away as a good omen
5229128 Attila the Hun interpreting a stork and its young flying away as a good omen and inspiring his army to capture the besieged Roman city of Aquileia, 452 (engraving) by English School

Moses Stepping on the Crown of Pharaoh (oil on canvas)
BAL174045 Moses Stepping on the Crown of Pharaoh (oil on canvas) by Ricci, Sebastiano (1658-1734); 93x101 cm; State Hermitage Museum, St

On allume les cierges pour les Morts (They light candles for the dead), 1878

Balthazars Feast, ca. 1624. Creator: Jan Muller
Balthazars Feast, ca. 1624

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"Omen: A glimpse into the mysterious world of signs and premonitions" In the realm of literature, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" takes flight, captivating readers with its haunting verses. As the raven flies in, it brings an eerie sense of foreboding that lingers long after the poem ends. Transporting us back to the 19th century, we find ourselves aboard the ill-fated Titanic departing from Southampton in 1912. Little did they know that this departure would mark a tragic omen for what lay ahead. An illustration from 1875 captures our attention as we delve deeper into Poe's masterpiece. The lithograph depicts a scene from "The Raven, " showcasing its timeless allure and fascination with dark omens. But not all they are shrouded in darkness. The image of a white dove by Oxenham reminds us that sometimes these signs can bring messages of peace and hope amidst turmoil. Turning to mythology, Cuchulain encounters an ill-omened raven on his path, foreshadowing impending danger or tragedy. Such tales remind us of how deeply ingrained omens have been throughout history. Taking a lighter turn, we stumble upon "A Farmer Went Trotting, " where superstition intertwines with nursery rhymes. Even children's stories hold traces of ancient beliefs surrounding good and bad luck symbols. From folklore to symbolism, the red phoenix emerges as both an omen and a symbol of rebirth. Its fiery presence ignites curiosity about how such mythical creatures continue to captivate our imaginations through time. Venturing further back in history, during the Norman Conquest in medieval times, seven out of sixteen events were marked by ominous occurrences—a testament to how seriously people regarded these signs then. Artistic interpretations also shed light on omens' significance across cultures; Bairnsfather's "Birds of Ill Omen" showcases their role in shaping human destinies, reminding us of the power these signs held.