The neoclassical style oil on canvas painting Fidelia and Speranza portrays a scene from the epic poem The Faerie Queene, written by Edmund Spenser.

Their elegant gestures and graceful contrapposto reveal West's, an American, admiration of the classical sculpture and artwork of the European old masters.

West’s uses the lines from the sister’s tilted heads down to the landing, upon which they stand, to create the traditional pyramid structure that subtlety states the stability and eternal truth of the Christian virtues faith and hope.

This is represented in the opposing colors of the Red Cross Knight and Una’s horses, as well as, the growing light in the sky illuminating the doorway of the House of Holiness in contrast to the dark interior.

The brightest color is the iridescent white of Fidelia’s robe, likely the source of the radiance surrounding her head and symbolizes the purity of faith.