FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG
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.
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Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (French, 1824–1898) — Summer
Arnold Böcklin — Venus Genitrix
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes — History
Jean-Etienne Liotard — De Drie Gratiën naar de antieke Romei
William Etty — Allegory
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes — Rest
William Etty — The Three Graces
Cornelis van Poelenburch — Nimfen door saters bespied
Henri Fantin-Latour (French, 1836–1904) — Tannhäuser
Lawrence Alma-Tadema (British, 1836–1912) — Glaucus and Nydi
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes — The River
French Painter — Allegorical subject