Summer, from a Series of the Four Seasons c. 1680 - 1690

Artus Quellinus the Younger crafted this marble sculpture, 'Summer,' embodying the season through symbols of bounty. Observe the figure crowned with leaves, a classical motif linking the wearer to nature's vitality. This echoes ancient Roman festivals honoring Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, where wreaths of wheat and foliage signified abundance. The basket overflowing with fruit is no mere decoration; it's a cornucopia, a horn of plenty, a symbol that transcends time. In ancient Greece, it represented the nymph Amalthea, who nurtured Zeus with goat's milk. This image, deeply ingrained in our collective memory, resurfaces repeatedly, adapted to various cultural contexts yet always evoking themes of nourishment and prosperity. The robust form of the child evokes a sense of fullness, a deep, subconscious connection to growth and fruition. It is a celebration of life's cyclical rhythms. The symbol, in its non-linear progression, resurfaces, evolving and taking on new meanings, but carrying the same emotional weight through time.