Allegory of the four seasons and human ages

Vos, Simon de (1603-1676)

Item type:

painting

Date of creation:

1635

Height:

49.0 cm  (19 5/16 in.)

Width:

64.0 cm  (25 3/16 in.)

Technique / Medium:

oil on wood

Additional titles

Description

From the Národní galerie Praha website: This work by de Vos can almost be read as a book and its meaning gradually deciphered. The central subject is the allegory of the five senses: the mirror stands for sight, the wine and drinks stand for taste, while the rose and dog mean smell: hearing is personified by a playing musical instrument and finally, the embrace of the young couple implies touch. The lovers also symbolise youth, while Bacchus stands for mature age and the couple on the right allude to old age. In this sense, also the course of the seasons in the background develops - from spring to summer to autumn, and finally, frosty winter.

Iconclass

23F4
the four seasons of the year ~ landscapes
31A3
the (five) senses
31D5
young versus old age; young and old
31D1
the ages of man

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Hurdy-gurdy [3305]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

RIdIM record id

5703