Woman with Fish (or Charity)

Italian, ca. 1853
H. 58”
Original location: East or West side of the center gazebo
Location of original:

This statue may be a personification of Charity is one of the Three Blessed Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. The woman in this statue is holding a fish. The fish is the most used symbol in early Christian art but it is most often associated with Christ. Often Charity is portrayed in the act of feeding others or gathering food. The fish here may refer to Christ feeding the five thousand. This statue along with the statue of the Woman with Bird statue both flanked the center gazebo. Adelicia in her will refers to the “mate of Innocence” which most likely is this statue. If that is the case Adelicia had forgotten the name of the statue and we are still unsure today.