It's About Time

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

17C Spring by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677)

1641 Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech, 1607-1677) Spring.

Monday, April 19, 2021

1671 Allegories of Spring- In a Garden with Putties

1671 Spring from The Four Seasons by Matthias Scheits (German artist c 1625 - 1700) Landscape with 5 putti in a landscape playing with birds.

Sunday, April 18, 2021

17C Allegory of Spring- In a Garden

1660 Spring from The Four Seasons by Jean Leblond 1605-1666. Here a couple sit on a turf seat under a tree in a garden setting.The young woman is holding flowers in her right hand and placing her left hand on the man's thigh. The man appears to be holding a staff in his left hand.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

17C Allegory of Spring- In a Garden with Putti

1650s Spring from The Four Seasons by Jonas Umbach (German artist c 1624 - 1700) Four putti in a garden with a fountain in background: one putti is being crowned with a flower wreath. Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Friday, April 16, 2021

17C Spring Boating Party Gathering Green Branches

Sebastian Vrancx (Flemish artist, 1573-1647) The Four Seasons - Spring Boating Party Gathering Green Branches to decorate their homes. Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

18C Allegory of Spring - Love & Bird Nests

18C English Woodcut of Spring. A bird's nest with chirping chicks is gently placed in the young woman's apron.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

18C Allegory of Spring - Love & Bird Nests

1796 Spring Published by George Thompson London

This depiction of Spring shows a family on a river bank. The man is holding a fishing rod and displying a fish caught on the line, while the woman opens a wicker basket full of others. The little girl stands holding a basket of flowers, while the little boy kneels in the foreground, feeding birds in a nest in his hat. Behind them a team is ploughing in the background to right.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

18C Allegory of Spring - Love & Bird Nests

1785 Probably published in Britain. Here a young man is handing a birds' nest to a young woman. He has one hand on her shoulder as she accepts the nest. She is collecting spring flowers in her apron. The couple is passing by another woman kneeling beside a basket of flowers and hold up a garland for the couple to see. Men are sowing grain in fields in the background to left.

Monday, April 12, 2021

17C Allegory of Spring - Love & Bird Nests

1600 Spring from The Four Seasons Jan Saenredam (Dutch printmaker, c 1565-1607) Here a young couple pick flowers & delight over tiny chicks in a bird nest.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

17C Allegories & Myths of Spring around a Garden

1600 From The Four Seasons; Martius, Aprilis, Maius published by Joan Baptista Vrints. A Spring Landscape with a man playing the lute accompanied by woman holding flowers in her hand; a boat on the water collecting branches; with farming and gardening activities in background.

In Pagan Rome, Floralia, from April 27-May 3 was the festival of the Flower Goddess Flora & the flowering of Springtime. Roman Catholic traditions of adoring statues of Mary with garlands of flowers on May 1 have Roman Pagan roots. On May 1, offerings were made to Bona Dea (as Mother Earth), the Lares (household guardian spirits), & Maia (Goddess of Increase) from whom May gets its name. On May 1, early cultures followed a pastoral tradition of turning sheep, cows, other livestock out to pasture. In early Scandinavia, mock battles between Winter & Summer were enacted at this time.

Fire is a common accompaniment to many May celebrations. Celebrants mark the holiday by lighting fires, dancing, feasting & often performing fertility rites. Many built a bonfire & then moved through it or danced clockwise around it. Livestock was driven around a Beltane fire or between 2 fires for purification & fertility blessings. In ancient times Druid priests kindled it at sacred places. In later times, Christian priests kindled their spring fires in fields near the church after peforming a Christian church service. Branches & twigs often were carried around these fire 3 times, then hung over hearths to bless homes. Risk-takers made a wish for good luck before jumping a bonfire or the flame of a candle. Beltane may refer to the “fires of Bel,” in honor of the Celtic sun god, Belenus. Some pagans believe fire has the power to cleanse, purify & increase fertility.

Some believed during May the veil between the human & supernatural worlds is at its thinnest, making them potent days for magic.

Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Saturday, April 10, 2021

17C Spring - Flowers, Fertility, Sensuality, & Delight by Martin Droeshout 1601-1639

Martin Droeshout (British printmaker, 1601-c 1639) Spring

In Pagan Rome, the celebration of Floralia, from April 27-May 3 was the festival of the Flower Goddess Flora & the flowering of Springtime. Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Friday, April 9, 2021

17C Spring Boating Parties - Making Music & Gathering Newly Green Branches

1660 Published by Matthew Collings; After Crispijn de Passe the Elder; After Maarten de Vos. May; boat with two couples collecting green branches, drinking, and making music. The branches of new leaves decorating the boat celebrate the regeneration of spring & fertility.

Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Thursday, April 8, 2021

16C Spring Allegories - Birding & Tending Sheep

Sebastian Vrancx (Flemish artist, 1573-1647) Allegory of the Season Spring

Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

17C Spring - Flowers, Fertility, Sensuality, & Delight.

1620 Lady as Spring, by Follower of Abraham Janssens, also called Abraham Janssens Van Nuyssen (Flemish, 1573-1632)

Spring brings flowers, fertility, sensuality, & delight. Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

17C Spring Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677)

Wenceslaus Hollar (European-born English artist, 1607-1677) Duchess of Lennox as Spring. Spring refers to the ecological, environmental season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection & regrowth.

Holding on to the Sweet Divine - “The Lord God took man & put him in the Garden of Eden to work it & to keep it.” Genesis 2:15.