The Arena Chapel

 Vices and Virtues

Giotto’s seven sins are unconventional, Anger is usually included on lists of sins. Giotto has two conventional sins: Envy and Wrath.  His list includes Injustice, Inconstancy, Infidelity, Folly, and Despair.  Missing are Avarice, Gluttony, Lust, Pride, and Sloth.   Giotto’s omissions relate to the principle of parallelism:  he depicts seven virtues.    By removing Lust and Gluttony, Giotto avoids asceticism.  By including Folly, he denounce blind faith.   Giotto takes pride in human accomplishments.   Despair is among the sins, and its counterpart, Hope, among the virtues.  As someone regarded as the first Renaissance painter,  Giotto advocates a positive outlook on life.