Minneapolis Institute of Art

The Pleasures of the Seasons: Autumn

Johann Georg Platzer

Date

c. 1730

Medium

Oil on copper, mounted with a Masonite backing

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Autumn is the season of Bacchus, the ancient Roman god of wine, shown here as a life-size sculpture holding a chalice and a staff bearing clusters of grapes. In the distance, peasants labor in the vineyards. Autumn is also the season of the hunt. At the right, a young hunter offers game to a seated maiden, who responds by giving him a bird she has taken from its cage. A caged bird symbolizes virginity. Platzer refers here to the dangers of overindulgence, which can lead to uncontrollable passion, however subtly masked by elegant attire and graceful actions. Austria, Europe

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