Charity and Faith c. 1600 - 1610

Hubert Gerhard fashioned this bronze and partly gilded sculpture of Charity and Faith around 1590. It embodies the virtues of the Christian faith during the Counter-Reformation. The female figure reclines, draped in golden robes, a symbol of wealth and status in the late 16th century. The book she holds suggests learning and piety, reflecting the era's emphasis on religious knowledge. Gerhard, working in Germany, was influenced by Italian Renaissance ideals. The Catholic Church, a dominant institution, shaped artistic production by commissioning works that reinforced religious doctrine. Sculptures like this one were tools to promote a conservative social order. Art historians can delve into the archives of religious institutions and trace the patronage networks to fully understand the social function of the work. The meaning of such art is always contingent on the context of its creation and reception.