The Pontifical Virtues

Posted byMaurizio BenvenutiPosted inArt, History, Roman art, Roman history, RomeTags:, , ,

The seven pontifical virtues are:

three Theological Virtues (concerning God): Faith, Hope and Charity;

four Cardinal Virtues (related to the human soul and enunciated by Plato): Fortitude, Justice, Prudence and Temperance (moderation).

In the Cosmatesque productions that decorate some medievale churches we find white, green and red tiles that represent Faith, Hope and Charity.

Allegories are personifications of ideas commonly used in the universal language of painting and sculpure (see below)

Faith has the cross and chalice
Faith has the anchor to hold on
Charity nurses the babies
Fortitude looks firm and steady
Justice holds the scale and the sword, sometimes represented blind as it should be
Prudence knows herself, remembers the past and protects herself like a serpent uses its body to protect its head
Temperance holds the bridle and wears a crown of myrtle, a calming herb, on her head.
Prudence looks in the mirror while holding an arrow (Immaculate Conception Room, Vatican Museums)

Published by Maurizio Benvenuti

Ostia Antica & Rome Tour Guide

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