As promised in my last blog, here’s one sharing a few paintings with Springtime as their theme. I googled ‘paintings of Springtime’ and came up with a few surprises. I then dug around to get the facts (size, date, location etc i.e. more than just an artist’s name and title of the painting) and here present the ones with which I was successful. In chronological order, they are:

 

 

I couldn’t not include this beautiful painting of springtime by Botticelli. This will be the one painting I am sure you are all familiar with. It’s an allegory and interpretation is still uncertain. You can read about what we think we know about the painting here. To view a fascinating YouTube video about the painting, click here.

 

 

Doesn’t that just make you smile?! I love that wee red alpine strawberry in amongst all that green. In all, 80 different varieties of flowering plants have been identified! As they don’t normally bloom at the same time of the year, Arcimboldo, in preparation for this painting, would have had to have made studies as each plant blossomed. The painting is one of a series of paintings of the four seasons commissioned by Emperor Maximillian II for whom Arcimboldo was court painter (in Vienna then Prague). To read more on the work of Arcimboldo, click here.

 

 

I remember the first time I saw bluebells in a forest like this in England, I was sure a knight would ride over the hill toward me. It was magical and this painting reminds me of the awe I felt in such natural beauty.

 

 

A completely different feeling from those above, this painting speaks of the romanticized glory of the American West. In this dramatic painting, spring is represented by the light. We see the cycle of life, moving from the darkness and death of winter into the the light of spring and renewal.

 

 

I had never come across this painting before and I just love it! Look at how Monet balanced all the spring green with that delicate pink dress.  Look closer and you’ll see that much of the pink is in actual fact greyed down with reflections of the green grass and the blue sky. There is such a coolness felt in the shade of the trees and the delight of reading quietly outdoors. I can almost hear the birds chirping and perhaps there is the laughter of children playing in the sunshine. This may be Monet’s wife Camille.

 

 

Young love never changes. I chuckle and shake my head noting how a Salon exhibitor could get away with painting a young teenaged girl with rather revealing dress and flirtatious glance yet the public was scandalized by John Singer Sargent’s painting of Madame X – click here to read more. It’s a delightful and accomplished painting in the academic style of the time. I had not heard of Cot before: apparently, this is his most well-known painting. You can read an article by one of the previous owners, Fred Ross, by clicking here. (An aside: I wondered who this Fred Ross was so I did some searching. Apparently he’s a New Jersey millionaire who founded the Art Renewal Centre. The Centre promotes a return to art similar in style to the work of Cot and Bourgereau for example. Read this article that looks at the Centre’s rather ridiculous and intolerant mission. Okay, back to Springtime!)

 

 

This painting was done after Van Gogh moved to Paris (1886) but before he headed off to the south of France (1888). His palette brightened under the influence of the Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painters for example Paul Signac. Van Gogh admired Signac’s loose colourful style and the two of them often painted river scenes together. You can feel the cool spring breeze in this painting, and understand the delight of spending a quiet time on the river fishing.

 

 

Springtime isn’t all pink and flowers and quiet moments in the shade. It’s also about stormy and unpredictable weather and this painting gives me that feeling of change with the clouds skidding across the sky. There is a freshness in the air is there not?

 

 

Our neighbours have decided to keep chickens. A few weeks ago they acquired four chicks which are now almost full grown (it happens so fast!). The chicks come rooting around in our yard once in awhile. This charming and idyllic painting came to mind today as I heard the chicks scratching in among the dead leaves as I wrote this blog.

 

 

I hope that offered you some springtime pleasure.

 

We are enjoying springtime here in Victoria, BC. It really is the most perfect time of the year when everything is just bursting forth. Look at these beautiful primulas in our garden photographed by my honey Cam.

 

 

 

Do you have any springtime paintings you wish I’d shared? Let me know. Alternatively, let me know which of the paintings above is your favourite!!

 

Thanks for sharing my journey.

 

~ Gail

 

PS. I came across this blog that has a whole heap of paintings of springtime. There are some beauties! I just wish Donald Jurney had included more information than just the artist and the title of the painting. (You know me and size!! Read my blog about this pet peeve of mine if you don’t 🙂 )