Artwork
Charity with Faith and Hope
Charity with Faith and Hope is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Gerrit Pietersz Sweelinck. It dates from 1593 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center, within image, in plate: CIVisscher excu.; lower right, within image, in plate: G.P. Fecit; in margin below image, in plate: Virtus quidem magna est FIDES, / Nec SPES Fide Virtus minor: / Sed, teste Christi Apostolo, / Est maxima harum CHARITAS.
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
Charity with Faith and Hope is a c. 1593 etching on laid paper by Gerrit Pietersz Sweelinck, part of the National Gallery of Art's collection in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts three intertwined female figures, Charity, Faith, and Hope, in a tumultuous, rocky landscape. Each is identified by symbolic attributes: a cross for Faith, an anchor-emblazoned shield for Hope, and an unspecified attribute (a horn) for Charity, collectively embodying Christian virtues.
Technique & Style
Sweelinck employed sharp, dramatic lines in the etching process to convey emotional intensity. The swirling hair, clothing, and stormy sky are characterized by expressive, dynamic rendering, while the rough, jagged landscape adds to the overall sense of turmoil.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1593, the etching is now held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, though its history prior to acquisition is not detailed here.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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