Justice, from the series "The Seven Virtues (seated, rectangular)" early 20th century (original from c.1540-1546)

Editor: This small bronze relief titled "Justice," from the series "The Seven Virtues," shows a seated figure with scales and a sword. The overall feeling I get is one of somber contemplation. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The symbols of Justice—scales and sword—are familiar, but consider their arrangement. The scales are held aloft, almost passively, while the sword is held firmly. What does that suggest about the cultural memory of justice in this period? Editor: Perhaps justice was seen as something actively enforced, rather than passively measured? Curator: Precisely. The background, a crumbling wall juxtaposed with a verdant landscape, might symbolize the fragility of order versus the enduring power of nature. How does that contrast affect your understanding of the piece? Editor: It gives the figure a timeless quality, as if she embodies a principle that transcends any specific era or place. Thanks, I see how the symbols work together now. Curator: Indeed. Visual symbols create pathways to cultural memory and continuity.