An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
The Pleasures of the Seasons: Springc. 1730
Artist: Johann Georg Platzer
Austrian, 1704 - 1760
Allegory. Rococo. Spring represented by scene showing human activity, usually in a landscape.
15 x 21 1/2 in. (38.1 x 54.61 cm) (panel)
19 3/4 x 26 1/2 in. (50.17 x 67.31 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on copper
Painting
Austria
18th century
Gift of Mrs. Walter H. Ude
In a vibrant tableau that bursts with the joy of life, we are whisked away to an 18th-century spring fête, where the air thrums with the strumming of lutes and the joyful laughter of young lovers. Picture a scene, sun dappling through the branches of blossoming trees, casting playful shadows over a gathering of jubilant spirits who dance and sway, just like a modern-day college crowd celebrating their spring break.
In the heart of this lively gathering, a couple twirls, lost in their own world, while the sweet strains of music weave around them like a gentle breeze. Above this scene, whimsical putti—cherubic figures carved from stone—playfully frolic atop a grand urn, their joy echoing the exuberance below. Each note they create seems to float above, uniting the dancers and revelers in a euphoric melody that captures the very essence of youth and freedom.
To the left, the energy intensifies, as a young couple embraces with a passion that feels almost electric. They are enveloped in their own fervent world, a stark contrast to the lighthearted frolicking. Their lips meet beneath the resplendent sculpture of Venus, the goddess of love herself, whose beauty is further graced by the presence of Cupid, her playful companion. Venus, often linked to the blossoming of spring, casts a benevolent eye upon them, reinforcing the season’s theme of blossoming romance and new beginnings.
In this city of color and joy, every detail shimmers with life—the laughter, the music, the urgency of love—all woven into a tapestry that speaks to the heart of what it means to be young and in love amid the neutral sweetness of springtime.
About the artist
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