Charity Raphael (1483-1520)

The painting, titled Charity, is a triptych with a central circular panel and two rectangular panels on either side.

In the central panel, a woman, likely representing Charity, is depicted cradling multiple infants. She wears a simple head covering and a flowing garment. Her arms are wrapped around the cluster of children, some of whom are nursing while others cling to her. The figures are rendered in a sculptural, almost monochromatic style using primarily white and earthy tones, set against a dark, rich green background.

The side panels feature two putti, or cherubic figures, in relief. The putto on the left carries a basket overflowing with flames on its head, with a draping cloak around its body. The putto on the right holds up a cornucopia from which cascades a bunch of grapes. Both putti are also rendered in a similar sculptural, pale style, standing within their respective rectangular niches.

Subtexts:

• Charity as Sustenance and Abundance: The central figure embodies the virtue of Charity through her nurturing embrace of many children, symbolizing her boundless generosity and ability to provide for all. The act of breastfeeding further emphasizes nourishment and life-giving sustenance.
• Symbolism of the Putti:
  • The putto on the left, carrying flames, can symbolize divine love, passion, or perhaps the purification brought by charity. It could also represent the Ardent spirit of giving.
  • The putto on the right, with grapes, alludes to abundance, fertility, and the rewards of generosity. Grapes are often associated with Bacchus and earthly pleasures, but in this context, they likely represent the fruits of good deeds and a bountiful life that results from charitable acts.
• Triptych Form: The triptych format itself often signifies religious themes and can represent past, present, and future, or different facets of a single concept. Here, it might suggest how Charity is fueled by divine ardor and results in earthly abundance.
• Virtues: The painting, as a whole, is an allegorical representation of the virtue of Charity, one of the three theological virtues. It appears to be an educational work intended to illustrate and promote this virtue through its symbolic imagery.
• Classical Influence: The use of sculptural forms, putti, and classical motifs like the cornucopia suggests a Renaissance or Baroque influence, where classical antiquity was frequently referenced in art to convey enduring ideals and virtues.