17th-century French or Flemish school,

17th-century French or Flemish school,
"Allegory of Summer."
Oil on copper.
Measurements: 21.5 x 28.5 cm.
This painting belongs to a widespread tradition in Baroque Europe: the allegorical representation of the seasons. Rather than depicting a specific landscape or an everyday scene, the artist uses idealized female figures, accompanied by putti (small winged cherubs) and symbols of fertility, to personify summer as a season of abundance, fullness, and the maturity of nature.
The composition is organized around a semi-nude female figure who occupies the center of the scene. Her serene and contemplative demeanor, together with the presence of fruits and plant elements, evokes the earth’s fertility during the summer months. The putti surrounding her reinforce the festive and sensual character of the image, a common device in Baroque mythological and allegorical painting.
Attributing the work to a French or Flemish school is consistent with several stylistic features. On the one hand, the rich color palette—dominated by warm reddish and ochre tones—and the enveloping atmosphere created by strong hallmarks of light and shadow evoke the influence of 17th-century Flemish painting. On the other hand, the elegance of the figures—with their delicate faces and refined gestures—resonates with the courtly taste that developed in France during that same period. In both artistic contexts, allegory became a preferred visual language for conveying moral, philosophical, and aesthetic ideas. From a formal standpoint, the work stands out for its fluid brushwork and its pursuit of lighting effects that gently model the bodies.