Artwork Page for The Four Seasons

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The Four Seasons

1850

Henry Picou

(French, 1824–1895)

Jean-Léon Gérôme

(French, 1824–1904)

Gustave Rodolphe Boulanger

(French, 1824–1888)

Jean-Louis Hamon

(French, 1821–1874)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
oil on fabric
Measurements
Framed: 75 x 66.5 x 7 cm (29 1/2 x 26 3/16 x 2 3/4 in.); Unframed: 56.3 x 46.5 cm (22 3/16 x 18 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Noah L. Butkin 1980.263
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

The artists who painted this work belonged to a group called the Néo-Grecs (New Greeks). They concentrated on depicting scenes of daily life in ancient Greece and Rome—often with an erotic slant. Here, relying on a popular Greco-Roman theme, the four works represent the seasons and their associated activities: the pursuit of love in spring; bathing in summer; harvesting grapes in fall; and a funerary ritual in winter. The decorative gold, black, and red borders also enhance the classical aspect of the work by recalling the painted wall decorations of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. The artists painted this work for their friend, French actor Edmond Got (1822–1901). They likely presented this picture to him in commemoration of his election to the Comédie- Francaise acting company and as a memento of their friendship.
A vertically oriented oil painting features four panels divided by a dark grid with gold lines and red squares. Figures with light skin tones engage in seasonal activities. At top left, a couple embraces within a floral frame. To their right, bathers wade in a stream beside a distant tower. Below, a dark-cloaked figure stands in a muted, wintry landscape. At bottom left, figures gather grapes on a sunlit hillside against a blue sky.

The Four Seasons

1850

Henry Picou, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Gustave Rodolphe Boulanger, Jean-Louis Hamon

(French, 1824–1895), (French, 1824–1904), (French, 1824–1888), (French, 1821–1874)
France, 19th century

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