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Notes

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By 1905 Evelyn De Morgan was 50, she had lived through the Boer War and the outbreak of the First World War. It is, therefore, perhaps no surprise that her thoughts become more and more preoccupied with the end of life and death. The adoption of the four seasons to depict the life cycle is a well-rehearsed trope in philosophy, Christianity and art, and Evelyn in a clearly reflective mood took the opportunity to illustrate her preoccupation with this theme. The left-hand side of the picture is bright in colour and thus the young female in her mauve robes depicts spring. The two central figures in the painting, who harvest an abundance of fruit, symbolise summer. Towards the right of the picture, the colours become more muted and sombre and these figures depict the autumn of life.