Patience, from the series "Eight Virtues (seated)" early 20th century (original from c.1540-46)

Editor: Here we have "Patience," one of the "Eight Virtues" series. It’s a small bronze relief, attributed to an anonymous artist. What’s striking is the figure's pose and the lamb at her side. What do you see in the means of production used here? Curator: It’s interesting to consider the labour involved in creating this bronze. The process of casting, the materials sourced, and the skill required. How did this object serve as a commodity, reflecting societal values related to virtues and potentially shaping consumer habits? Editor: That's a fantastic way to consider the piece. So much is embedded within the object itself, beyond the image it presents. Curator: Indeed, it makes us reconsider the value we place on both the art and the virtue it depicts, and the role of material culture in shaping those values.