Summer and art collide
Nothing is more evident of the passing of the seasons from spring firmly into summer than the presence of all the sunshine we have recently been treated to. The seasons, and their changes, have long held inspiration for artists too, including those in the Bowood collection.
For that reason, as we enjoy hot July days, our Object of the Month for July had to be this beautiful painting of The Seasons: Spring and Summer, attributed to sixteenth century artist Andrea Meldolla, known as Il Schiavone (1510/15-1563).
Il Schiavone
Born in the city of Zara (now Zadar) on the Dalmatian coast (now Croatia) in the early sixteenth century, Andrea Meldolla grew up under Venetian jurisdiction.
Venice at this time was a powerhouse of a city. Throughout the Middle Ages, it had grown to become a significant naval power, in particular capitalising on being the city where the Middle East and Europe met for trade. Though by the sixteenth century it had conceded some of its territory to the Ottoman Empire, it remained a vibrant centre for culture. Art, architecture and printing were incredibly exciting worlds to be involved in, and Venetian painting became famous during this period for its rich, layered use of beautiful colours.
By the 1530s, Meldolla had moved to Venice. His nickname, Il Schiavone, literally means “the Slavonian” in Italian, pointing to where he had come from. His artistic training is not known, but it is thought that he largely taught himself, following the prints of Parmigianino (1503-1540).
Parmigianino was one of the pioneering artists of the Mannerist movement, which moved on from more natural depictions of the world by earlier Italian artists to idealise and stylise the human form. It used colour more than ever to decorate and express messages and ideas. As a result, Meldolla, Il Schiavone, became an important Mannerist artist who influenced others working in Venice at the time.
Seasons in Italian painting
In the western side of the Orangery at Bowood, you will find a pair of paintings attributed to Meldolla that show the passing of the seasons. On the right, Autumn and Winter, and on the left, Spring and Summer.
At this time of year, it is easy to get lost in a painting like this. Meldolla moves from the lambs being born in spring into the wildflowers and harvesting of wheat of high summer. Golden colours echo the warmth outside, and the skies are a beautiful rich blue.
By contrast, Autumn and Winter show the fields being ploughed and bare trees, having lost their leaves.
The passing of the seasons has always been a popular subject for artists. In Renaissance Italy and later, often symbols of the seasons were used, like goddesses surrounded by objects that would indicate summer or spring, for example.
What is interesting about these paintings is that Meldolla chose not to do this. Instead, he chose to represent people doing seasonal activities, with nature doing the talking around them to show us what time of year it is. This pair of paintings tell a story of how nature changes, encouraging us to enjoy every aspect of the season we are in.
