51 The Seven Vices: Wrath Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337)

The composition presents a single figure contained within a rectangular architectural frame. The background is rendered in muted greens and grays, creating a sense of enclosure and emphasizing the central subject. Above the figure, inscribed in capital letters, appears the word Ira, suggesting a direct identification with the concept it represents.
Here we see a woman depicted in a flowing, classical-style garment. Her posture is one of apparent distress; her head tilted back, eyes closed, mouth slightly open as if emitting a silent cry or groan. The hands are raised towards her chest, almost defensively, yet also conveying vulnerability and exposure. There’s an element of theatricality to the pose – it feels staged rather than naturalistic.
The artist has employed a limited palette dominated by pale flesh tones contrasted against the darker background. Light falls upon the figure from an unseen source, highlighting the contours of her body and creating subtle gradations in tone that suggest volume and form. The rendering of the face is particularly striking; while idealized in its features, theres also a sense of suffering etched into the expression.
The choice to portray this vice as a woman is significant within the context of medieval and Renaissance moralizing art. It suggests an association between feminine qualities – perhaps perceived as weakness or susceptibility – and the destructive power of wrath. The figure’s size, appearing somewhat substantial, could be interpreted as symbolizing the overwhelming nature of this particular sin.
The architectural frame itself contributes to the works meaning. By placing the figure within a defined space, it suggests that wrath is not an isolated emotion but rather a condition or state of being, something contained and yet inescapable. The overall effect is one of solemnity and moral warning; the viewer is confronted with a personification of a destructive force, presented in a manner designed to elicit contemplation and perhaps, repentance.