Four Seasons and Seven Vices: Old Master Prints in Series

Many historic works of printmaking were created as part of a thematic series. Artists often depicted well-known stories of the seasons, elements, planets, virtues, and vices. This is particularly true during the Renaissance and Baroque eras when a variety of forces—aesthetic, commercial, educational, and religious in nature—led to the illustration of these themes. Using artwork to illuminate thematic narratives stems from a uniquely medieval way of organizing, memorizing, and recalling vast amounts of information. This way of shaping and imparting knowledge continued well into the Renaissance, where it enjoyed great popularity. Four Seasons and Seven Vices introduces this approach to printmaking and collecting, highlighting why it found such favor at this time. It features work by leading artists including Jacques Callot, William Hogarth, Jacob Matham, and Jan Pietersz Saenredam.

This exhibition is on loan from The Trout Gallery, The Art Museum of Dickinson College.

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