Charity 

Sebastiano Ricci’s “Charity” is a painting that echoes artistic and societal values of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During this era, it was common to depict the virtues of motherhood, with 'charity' as a prominent theme. Here, Ricci represents charity through the idealized image of a woman, her bare breast symbolizing her role as a nurturing mother. The figures cluster together in their shared destitution. This portrayal speaks to the social conditions of the time. However, such depictions also reinforced a patriarchal view, narrowly defining women by their reproductive and maternal capabilities, while often ignoring their intellectual and emotional complexities. Ricci’s painting invites us to consider the interplay between aesthetic beauty and the underlying assumptions about gender and social roles that defined his era.