Artwork
Charity
Charity is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Vincent Sellaer. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Charity is a mid-16th century oil painting by Vincent Sellaer, a Flemish artist. Created around 1550, it is now part of the Museo del Prado's collection in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman with two children, embodying the virtue of Charity. A winged creature with a lion's body and eagle's wings sits behind her on a pedestal. A Latin inscription is visible above her head, though its specific text is not clear.
Technique & Style
Sellaer's work blends Italian Renaissance and northern European influences, seen in the balanced composition and monumental figures. The contrast between the woman's soft skin and the dark background highlights her gentle yet strong presence.
Context
The use of putti, or chubby, often winged children, adds to the scene's innocence and is a motif common in Renaissance art, symbolizing various virtues and emotions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vincent Sellaer (1490–1564), was a Flemish Renaissance painter known for his mythological and religious subjects. His works stand out through their monumentality of form and their mixing of Italian and northern styles.
