Spring was painted by Gillis Mostaert in 1590.

Where can I see Spring?

Spring is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Spring?

Spring is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of Spring?

Museum-quality prints of Spring are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Spring

Gillis Mostaert , 1590

Spring is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Gillis Mostaert. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1590 by the Flemish painter Gillis Mostaert the Elder, *Spring* is an oil on canvas work that exemplifies the Mannerist approach to landscape. The composition combines interior and exterior elements, placing a solitary figure beneath a verdant tree that dominates the foreground. The painting is part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection in St. Petersburg.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the scene a woman in a vivid red skirt holds a ladder, extending her reach toward the tree’s branches, where apples and blossoms appear to be arranged. Her gesture suggests a ritual of decoration or harvest, linking human activity with the renewal associated with the season of spring.

Technique & Style

Mostert employs a nuanced chiaroscuro, allowing light to filter through the foliage and illuminate the figure while the surrounding interior recedes into shadow. The handling of oil paint renders the leaves with a tactile texture, and the subtle gradations of tone give the composition a three‑dimensional presence characteristic of late‑Renaissance Mannerism.

History & Provenance

Active in Antwerp during the latter half of the sixteenth century, Mostaert ran a prolific workshop that supplied works to elite patrons. *Spring* entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains displayed as part of the museum’s Flemish Renaissance collection.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Gillis Mostaert

Gillis Mostaert the Elder (27 or 28 November 1528 – 28 December 1598) was a Flemish Renaissance painter and draughtsman active in Antwerp in the second half of the 16th century.