On the Seasons of Nicolas Poussin

Abstract

The four landscape paintings of the Seasons (1660-1664) are the most important works in N. Poussin's last years. Each picture illustrated by an event from the Old Testament is worked out to be varied one another ; as it were, a realization of his "degli modo". It has been generally noticed that the landscapes of Poussin have more or less some allegorical meanings. His inimitable skill could represent these symbols without direct formality, wrapped up in the nature. The allegory under the pretext of the seasons is typical example of connotations underlying Poussin's landscape as a composed world.