Emma Gaggiotti Richards was born in Rome, spent her youth in Ancona, where she met her future husband, an Englishman. Later they moved to London and remained there until 1854. Her religious and mythological paintings and portraits brought her wide recognition. This is one of a set of four allegories (403620, 403576, 403586 and 403584), depicting ‘Religion’ and the three theological virtues, commissioned by Prince Albert and modeled on Raphael’s four virtues in roundels on the vault of the Stanza della Segnatura. 'Charity' (Love) is shown in the traditional guise of a mother with children, in this case four, two of whom she is suckling. Signed: E. G. R.