Figure of Autumn from the Four Seasons

The modern notion of childhood as a time of innocence and simplicity emerged during the second half of the eighteenth century. This understanding of adolescence led to numerous depictions of children as personifications of the four seasons. Here autumn is portrayed as a young girl playfully jostling her overskirt as she balances a basket of fruit against her hip. The grapes, plums, and apples filling her basket allude to a plentiful fall harvest.

A hard-paste porcelain sculpture depicts a young figure standing and leaning forward as they hold a yellow basket of grapes with both hands, wearing a white blouse with red ribbons and a pink patterned overskirt. A wreath of grapes and green leaves sits on their head, matching clusters on the mossy green base near their bare feet. The figure's face has rosy cheeks and downcast eyes above a white skirt featuring a gold lattice pattern.

Figure of Autumn from the Four Seasons

c. 1775

Bristol Porcelain Factory

(British, 1770–81)

England, Bristol

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