Allegory of Charity | Giovanni Battista Pasqualini after Guercino | 1620

This antique copperplate engraving dates to the mid-1600s and is an allegorical representation of charity printed by Giovanni Battista Pasqualini after a lost original painting by Guercino. It depicts Mary nursing the infant Christ. A celestial messenger above looks on; the Latin motto “non agit perperam” is just below him. It comes from Saint Paul’s description of charity in Corinthians 13:4 ”Caritas patiens est, benigna est. Caritas non aemulatur, non agit perperam, non inflatur..." “Charity is patient, is kind. Charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up...") In other words, good deeds are to be done quietly; for their own sake rather than to earn praise. At the bottom among the dedications is “Maior autem horum est charitas,” also from Corinthians. “And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity". Dated 1622, presented as found float mounted in a contemporary mat and early 20th century frame. Some condition issues: Some creasing and a brown age stain on the right side. The actual print measures 17” x 13”; overall it measures 24” x 19”.