Lente 1592

Antonio Tempesta created this small engraving, titled "Spring," in the late 16th or early 17th century. The image depicts a procession celebrating the season, complete with musicians, dancers, and a flower-bedecked chariot pulled by livestock. Made in Italy, this work reflects the cultural fascination with classical mythology and the allegorical representation of the seasons. The imagery evokes a sense of abundance and fertility, aligning with the hopes and expectations associated with the arrival of spring. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, this engraving reveals the social function of art in its time: it was a commodity traded among collectors and art lovers. To fully understand this image, we might delve into emblem books and festival prints of the period. These sources shed light on the iconographic conventions and social practices that shaped the production and reception of art in early modern Italy. Such research allows us to appreciate art as a dynamic reflection of its own time.