Putto at the left hold aloft grapes,another seated at the right holding an urn, an allegory of the seasons (Summer), an oval composition

Art Historical Context

This delicate etching, created around 1650–80, presents an elegant allegory of Summer through two playful putti in an oval frame. One figure raises a cluster of grapes, while the other sits with an urn, evoking themes of abundance, harvest, and the warmth of the season. The compact composition and graceful lines reflect the refined decorative tastes of 17th-century Europe, where such prints often adorned private albums or served as designs for larger decorative schemes. Likely produced by an anonymous artist working in the circle of Pietro Testa, the work showcases the expressive potential of etching. This medium allowed artists to achieve fine, fluid lines and subtle tonal effects, making it ideal for circulating classical and allegorical subjects among collectors. The small scale—roughly the size of a postcard—highlights the intimate, portable nature of such prints during the Baroque period. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece offers a charming glimpse into how seasonal motifs were celebrated in everyday art. Its acquisition through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund underscores the enduring appeal of these lighthearted yet symbolically rich images.