Charitas and the Acts of Charity, from a Series of Tazza Designs 1583 - 1593

Theodor de Bry's "Charitas and the Acts of Charity, from a Series of Tazza Designs" (1583-1593) is a circular engraving depicting scenes of charity. At the center is a seated figure of Charitas, the personification of charity, holding a baby. Surrounding her are four vignettes, each depicting an act of charity such as clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and visiting the sick. The image is a complex and detailed composition, reflecting the popularity of the tazza design in the late Renaissance period. This print would have been intended for decorative purposes, likely as a design for a tazza, a type of shallow bowl or cup.