Spring

William Henry Rinehart

1856; carved 1874 · Marble · The American Wing

"Spring" and its pendant, "Winter," were among the earliest works Rinehart created after moving to Italy in 1855. Personifications of the seasons and the times of day were frequent themes in Neoclassical relief sculpture. This work is reminiscent of the popular reliefs by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, especially his "Day and Night" (1815; Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen). Only the oval shape is a departure, since most Neoclassical reliefs are circular. Rinehart's bas-relief depicts a young woman as the personification of Spring, with classicized facial features and hair treatment. Her flowing drapery, revealing one breast in the manner of antique sculptures of Amazons, closely outlines her elongated form. She scatters flowers, her symbol.

Artist

William Henry Rinehart

Date

1856; carved 1874

Medium

Marble

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Ronald E. Fritz, 1985