Allegory of Spring
Anna Maria Barbara Abesch (Sursee 1706–1773 Sursee)
1727
Reverse glass painting with negative effect. The paint is applied in several very thin layers.
Glass panel: H 9.2 cm, W 10.2 cm
Vitrocentre Romont, Collection R. and F. Ryser, RY 605
A seated, refined young lady holds a flower in her left hand. She has taken it from a basket of flowers handed to her by a young shepherd. On her lap are flowers of all kinds. Others adorn her hairstyle. In the background, a shepherd is seen playing the flute in the midst of his flock of sheep.
Seasonal depictions were extremely popular in 18th century reverse glass painting. They occur either as allegorical personifications or as typified seasonal landscapes in which people are engaged in recognisable, seasonally specific agricultural activities. This small reverse glass painting is part of a series of the four seasons exhibited here. It was probably based on etchings by Carel Allard (1648-1709), which has been proved for the painting of “Winter” in the same series. The seasonal depictions are contained in a painted stone rondel, the frame of which is just visible in the corners of each frame picture. This motif is often found in Anna Maria Barbara Abesch’s rectangular paintings. The artist painted this seasonal cycle at the age of 21. It is one of her first signed and dated works and attests to a very early virtuoso technical skill with an exceedingly fine brushstroke. Her work marks the beginning of the professionalisation of women artists in the field of reverse glass painting in the 18th century.