According to Roman mythology, Justice was a goddess who watched over humanity and ensured fairness among all. It is said that, disillusioned by human injustice, she left Earth and ascended to heaven, where she became the constellation Virgo.
Date: 1866
Material: Marble
Location: Cathedral of Saint Alexander the Martyr, altar of the Holy Crucifix of Bergamo
Inscriptions: IN.ZO FRACCAROLI 1866 (bottom right)
The statue of Justice, sculpted in marble by Innocenzo Fraccaroli, is located to the left of the altar in the chapel dedicated to the Holy Crucifix of Bergamo Cathedral, next to the statue of Mercy.
Justice depicts an allegorical female figure, standing upright, wearing a long drapery that covers her dress to the neck, closed with a button. The symbols of Justice are clearly recognizable: the sword, held in one hand and pointing upward, evokes strength and rigor; the olive branch, in the other hand, alludes to peace and balance; the scales, a universal emblem of fairness, decorate the diadem on her head. The sculptor also demonstrates great attention to aesthetic details, such as the hairstyle with wavy hair, partially gathered, with only a few curls falling to the shoulders, emphasizing the delicacy of the face and the harmony of the figure.
A plaster model of Justice exists, preserved in the side chapel of the parish church of Castelrotto, the sculptor's birthplace. This model, although lacking the sword, is a precious testimony to the artist's execution techniques and creative process. It was donated by Fraccaroli himself, along with the plaster cast of the Misericordia.
