The monument is dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, who was the Cardinal Legate of Bologna in the founding years of the Archiginnasio.
The fresco (realised between 1610 and 1612) was created by the Bolognese Giovanni Luigi Valesi and it represents four female figures, which are identifiable with Faith, Hope, Charity and Temperance.

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Staircase of the Legisti