Conca represents the different character of the four seasons through one of the most favored artistic motifs of the 18th century, the "putto" (embodying the spirit of a little child). The playful, tender, and fleshy figures convey a light mood. As allegorical personifications here, they act out seasons through typical activities. Seated at the fire of a brazier, winter wraps himself up against the cold (walters 37. 1791); spring holds a wreath of flowers; summer shades his head with a leaf against the heat while cooling his foot in a stream (walters 37. 1744); and autumn, like a little bacchus (the ancient god of wine), holds grapes, representing the harvest (walters 37. 1792). The charming series was surely intended to decorate a small room, perhaps a dressing room. Object Type: painting. Genre: allegory. Date: circa 1720 (Baroque). Place of creation: Naples, Italy. Dimensions: height: 47.8 cm (18.8 in); width: 22 cm (8.6 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Sebastiano Conca - Allegory of Spring - Walters 371724
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