Fortitude, from the series "The Seven Virtues (seated, small, and round)" c. early 20th century

Curator: Editor: So, this little bronze round, "Fortitude" from "The Seven Virtues," presents a seated figure amidst lions. It's so small, yet the image is, somehow, fierce. What do you think is going on here? Curator: I'd say it's a lovely lesson in scale. Fortitude isn't always loud; sometimes, it’s quiet persistence. The figure is seated but also seems to be embracing a pillar. Is it a support or a burden? What do you think? Editor: Burden, maybe? The lions feel… watchful. I initially read them as threatening, but now they might be protectors. Curator: Precisely! It's that ambiguity that makes it stick with you. Such big ideas in such a tiny package. Editor: I love how it challenges assumptions, that virtue isn't always what we expect. Curator: Exactly! It's a miniature marvel of meaning, isn't it?