The Four Seasons: Summer c. 1760 - 1765

Editor: Here we have "The Four Seasons: Summer" created by the Workshop of Johann Joachim Günther. It’s a life-size sculpture currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. What can you tell me about the social context of the imagery of this statue? Curator: Well, the idealized figure, semi-nude and crowned with straw, accompanied by a cherubic figure, speaks volumes about the role of art in shaping perceptions of seasons and labor. How do you think the patronage system influenced the depiction of summer? Editor: It's interesting to think about how wealth and power dictate which images are seen and celebrated. I never thought of seasonal sculptures as being so political. Curator: Exactly! It makes you consider the artist's role in reinforcing or challenging those power structures, doesn't it?