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The sculpture depicts a woman seated on the ground, clothed in flowing drapery, with two young children or cherubs. One child is held on her lap, while the other stands to the side, reaching up towards the woman. The background shows an architectural arch. The medium of the sculpture appears to be metallic, likely bronze. The relief sculpture creates a three-dimensional effect, allowing the viewer to perceive contours and details such as the folds of the clothing, the hair, and the interactions among the figures.
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The sculpture depicts a woman seated on the ground, clothed in flowing drapery, with two young children or cherubs. One child is held on her lap, while the other stands to the side, reaching up towards the woman. The background shows an architectural arch. The medium of the sculpture appears to be metallic, likely bronze. The relief sculpture creates a three-dimensional effect, allowing the viewer to perceive contours and details such as the folds of the clothing, the hair, and the interactions among the figures.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Allegory of Charity

Attributed to Master of the Judgment of Solomon

Date
c. 1580
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall: 9 x 6.1 cm (3 9/16 x 2 3/8 in.) gross weight: 110 gr
Classification
Sculpture · Plaquette
Accession number
1980.58.1
Credit line
Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund
Time span
1551 to 1600
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Netherlandish
  • Renaissance Plaquettes
  • Charity
  • virtues and vices
  • allegory
Provenance

(Philip Anthony Roth, London); purchased 16 December 1980 by NGA.

NGA object ID 59878. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.