History Art / SevenVirtues

One of them, ''Fortitude'', was painted on poplar wood by Creator/SandroBotticelli. The other six (''Temperance'', ''Faith'', ''Charity'', ''Hope'', ''Justice'' and ''Prudence'') were painted on cypress wood (a wood able to resist the attacks of wood-eating insects and damp) by Piero del Pollaiolo (1441 - 1496), who may have been helped by his brother Antonio to speed up the process. The reason Botticelli painted only one is because del Pollaiolo [[ScrewedByTheLawyers wrestled the commission from him]] in his favor after contesting the choice of artist by the Tribunale di Mercanzia (the legal body that regulated craftsmanship guilds in UsefulNotes/TheCityStateEra, arts included).

* {{Minimalism}}: The painting has no other attributes than the ecstatic face of the woman giving herself up to God in a prayer, which is sufficiently explanatory.

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: The woman is blonde, and she just so happens to symbolize Charity, which oftens implies the person is good-hearted.

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: The woman is blonde, and she just so happens to symbolize Charity.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Each one of them is a female human who personifies a Christian virtue.

* AllegoricalCharacter: A regal and armored woman as an allegory of fortitude.

* CoolSword: The woman holds a sword, a symbol for punishment of injustice.

* PrayerPose: She prays with the traditional Christian gesture of joining hands palm against palm.

* ShownTheirWork: Both Botticelli's and Pollaiolo's knowledge in goldsmithing (or that of the latter's brother Antonio, who was a goldsmith) shows in, respectively, the very detailed armor of ''Fortitude'' and the gold objects of some of the others, which was inspired by the most elegant, precious ecclesiastical ornaments in use in the 15th century.

* ShownTheirWork: Both Botticelli's and Pollaiolo's knowledge in goldsmithing (or that of his brother Antonio, who was a goldsmith) shows in, respectively, the very detailed armor of ''Fortitude'' and the gold objects of some of the others, which was inspired by the most elegant, precious ecclesiastical ornaments in use in the 15th century.

One of them, ''Fortitude'', was painted on poplar wood by Creator/SandroBotticelli. The other six (''Temperance'', ''Faith'', ''Charity'', ''Hope'', ''Justice'' and ''Prudence'') were painted on cypress wood (a wood able to resist the attacks of wood-eating insects and damp) by Piero del Pollaiolo (1441 - 1496), who may have been helped by his brother Antonio to speed up the process. The reason Botticelli painted only one is because del Pollaiolo [[ScrewedByTheLawyers wrestled the commission from him]] in his favor after contesting the choice of artist by the Tribunale di Mercanzia.

One of them, ''Fortitude'', was painted on poplar wood by Creator/SandroBotticelli. The other six (''Temperance'', ''Faith'', ''Charity'', ''Hope'', ''Justice'' and ''Prudence'') were painted on cypress wood (a wood able to resist the attacks of wood-eating insects and damp) by Piero del Pollaiolo (1441 - 1496), who may have been helped by his brother Antonio to speed up the process. The reason Botticelli painted only one is because del Pollaiolo wrestled the commission from him in his favor after contesting the choice of artist by the Tribunale di Mercanzia.

* CrucialCross: As a personification of the Christian faith, she holds the most recognizable symbols of it -- a crucifix in one hand and a chalice (for the Blood of [[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Christ]]) in the other.

* CrucialCross: As a personification of the Christian faith, she holds a crucifix in one hand and a chalice (for the Blood of [[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} Christ]]) in the other.

* WiseSerpent: The woman holds a serpent not because she stays away from a danger it could represent, but because of this quote from the ''[[Literature/TheFourGospels Gospel of Matthew]]'':

* WiseSerpent: The woman holds a serpent because of this quote from the ''[[Literature/TheFourGospels Gospel of Matthew]]'':

The ''Seven Virtues'' is a seven-panel set of UsefulNotes/{{Ital|y}}ian [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] tempera-on-wood {{paintings}} commissioned together and made in 1470 to decorate the Hall of Il Palazzo della Signoria in UsefulNotes/{{Florence}}. The theme is the UsefulNotes/{{Christian|ity}} [[SevenHeavenlyVirtues seven cardinal and theological virtues]].

-->'''Jesus:''' Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

-->“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

* SnakesAreSinister: The woman holds a serpent, keeping the danger it represents away.

* AllegoricalCharacter: A woman mixing cold and hot water as a symbole of temperance, the capacity for moderation and the right measure.

* CoolSword: The woman holds a sword, a symbol for punishment of injustice. The iconography of Justice at arms became established in the 14th century, perhaps with the aim of vindicating the [[JusticeWillPrevail principle of certain penalty as a guarantee of peace]] and good government, or to indicate the righteous use of power.

* ShownTheirWork: Both Botticelli's and Pollaiolo's knowledge in goldsmithing (or that of his brother Antonio, who was a goldsmith) shows in, respectively, the very detailed armor of ''Fortitude'' and the gold jewellery of some of the others, which was inspired by the most elegant, precious ecclesiastical ornaments in use in the 15th century.

* ShownTheirWork: Like Botticelli, Pollaiolo had knowledge in goldsmithing, demonstrated by the careful depiction of the jug and metal basin. And his brother Antonio, who may have helped him on the paintings, was a goldsmith.

* ArtisticLicenceAnatomy: The reason all the depicted women have a larger lower part of their body compared to the smaller upper part is one of [[MediaNotes/GraphicalPerspective perspective]]: the panels were hung high on the walls of the Palazzo della Signoria, so the onlooker could have a more even view of them from below.

The ''Seven Virtues'' is a seven-panel set of tempera-on-wood {{paintings}} commissioned together and made in [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance 1470]] to decorate the Hall of Il Palazzo della Signoria in UsefulNotes/{{Florence}}. The theme is the UsefulNotes/{{Christian|ity}} [[SevenHeavenlyVirtues seven cardinal and theological virtues]].

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Fortitude symbolized as a regal and armored woman.

* ShownTheirWork: The very detailed armor is proof that Botticelli had a certain amount of knowledge in goldsmithing.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Temperance symbolized as a female human mixing hot and cold water.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Faith symbolized as a female human holding a chalice and a crucifix.
* ShownTheirWork: Pollaiolo's knowledge in goldsmithing (or that of his brother Antonio) shows in the gold jewellery, which was inspired by the most elegant, precious ecclesiastical ornaments in use in the 15th century.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Charity symbolized as a female human breastfeeding a child.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Hope symbolized as a female human looking up to the heavens and making a praying gesture with her hands.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Justice symbolized as a female human holding a sword and a globe.

* AnthropomorphicPersonification: Prudence, a virtue that indicates the ability to choose good and to act wisely, symbolized as a female human holding a serpent in one hand and a mirror reflecting her face in the other.

One of them, ''Fortitude'', was painted on poplar wood by Creator/SandroBotticelli. The other six (''Temperance'', ''Faith'', ''Charity'', ''Hope'', ''Justice'' and ''Prudence'') were painted on cypress wood (a wood able to resist the attacks of wood-eating insects and damp) by Piero del Pollaiolo (1441 - 1496), who may have been helped by his brother Antonio to speed up the process. The reason Botticelli painted only one is because del Pollaiolo wrestled the commission from him in his favor after contesting the choice of artist by the Tribunale di Mercanzia. All seven paintings are housed in the Galleria degli Uffizi museum in Florence.