Faith, Hope and Charity 1807

Editor: Here we have John Flaxman's "Faith, Hope and Charity" from the Tate Collections. It appears to be an engraving. The figures are so delicately rendered; what strikes you most about its composition? Curator: Notice how Flaxman uses line to create a sense of ethereal lightness. The figures are not grounded in a realistic space but float within a radiant, undefined aura. The linear style, reminiscent of classical friezes, emphasizes form and contour over volume and mass. Editor: So, the emphasis is on the relationships between the lines themselves, rather than creating realistic figures? Curator: Precisely. The composition favors a symbolic language through line. Flaxman prioritized ideal form. What do you make of the rainbow? Editor: It's interesting to see how the linear style is consistent across the figures and even the landscape elements. I hadn’t thought about the classical influence before. Curator: Indeed, it is through close attention to these formal qualities that we begin to decode the deeper symbolic meaning.