Faith, Hope, and Charity are the three Christian virtues. In order to determine which virtue a work of art represents, scholars study features such as posture, symbols, actions, accessories, and setting.

For example, the Virtue of Faith carries a cross and chalice, Hope holds a flaming brand or torch, and Charity gathers fruit and may have small children at her side. Since all that remains of our statue at the Nasher is the head, it is difficult to determine which virtue she represented.

Virtues also commonly wear a halo, crown, or diadem. The hair of the Nasher Virtue is styled with an indentation above the curls, and several holes are visible—evidence that a metal headpiece originally would have been attached.