Artwork
Vertumnus and Pomona
Vertumnus and Pomona is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Christian Sperling. It dates from 1719 and is held in the collection of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
About this work
Overview
Vertumnus and Pomona is a 1719 copper painting by Johann Christian Sperling, depicting a mythological scene. It is part of the collection at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays an interaction between two figures from Roman mythology: Vertumnus (right, in brown robe and white shirt) and Pomona (left, in a blue waist cloth). Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees, sits on a rock amidst scattered fruits and leaves, while Vertumnus, the god of seasons and change, stands beside her, engaging in a gesture of conversation or appeal.
Technique & Style
Sperling's composition utilizes expressive body language and nuanced hand gestures to convey the relationship between the mythological figures. The color palette, including the contrast between Pomona's blue attire and the earthy tones of Vertumnus's robe, contributes to the scene's depth and atmospheric quality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1719, the painting is now housed at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, a renowned museum for Old Masters.
Context
This work reflects the Baroque period's fascination with classical mythology, often used to explore themes of nature, seasons, and human interaction with the environment.
Legacy
As a lesser-documented work by Sperling, its legacy is more closely tied to the broader tradition of mythological themes in 18th-century European art rather than standing as a landmark piece in its own right.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Christian Sperling (1690–1746) was an artist, born in Halle (Saale).
