Summer & Winter 

Michael Parkes' painting presents us with a nude woman seated atop a figure bearing a hat, alongside lilies and other symbols ripe for interpretation. Lilies, those elegant blooms, have long carried associations with purity and renewal, dating back to ancient Crete where they were linked to potent goddesses. Now, observe how the woman, seemingly lost in thought, gazes towards a small frog—a creature often tied to transformation and fertility. These motifs resonate deeply with the cyclical nature of life, echoing through time. Consider the curious hat beneath her; it evokes the Commedia dell'arte, where stock characters donned masks to reveal universal truths through humor. Its presence here invites us to ponder layers of performance and identity. Much like Renaissance allegories, Parkes uses these symbols to tap into our collective memory, prompting emotional responses tied to our deepest cultural narratives. This is not just a painting, but a mirror reflecting timeless human experiences.