Rootius, a painter from the northern province of Friesland who specialized in group portraits, depicts five richly dressed sisters with attributes and Latin inscriptions referencing familiar Christian virtues. The girl in red holds a crucifix for Faith (Fides), the sisters in the middle nurture their baby sister (Caritas, or Charity), and the girl at right holds an anchor, symbolic of Hope (Spes). Their pet falcon may allude to the training that will inculcate these virtues.