Spring (Lente)

About this artwork.

Spring is represented by a female figure. Autumn is represented by a male figure, flanked by a grapevine. In his right hand he has a grape knife. Summer is the image of a man with a stick, a sickle and a sheaf of grain. Winter is represented by a female figure with a walking stick. The sculpture Spring is a copy of Winter, with the main difference being that the walking stick is missing. 

The reason that the sculpture Spring is an almost exact copy of the sculpture Winter lies in the fact that these sculptures were stolen in the 1970s. Summer, Autumn and Winter were fortunately found again, but Spring was lost without a trace. Because the design of Spring and Winter showed many similarities, it was decided around 1990 that a copy should be made. 

The four cast iron statues stand in recesses on the balconies of the former teahouse. In the past this property was owned by the wealthy industrialist W.A. Scholten. In 1864 he bought some property for over 10,000, including a “pleasant country house near the upcoming railway”. Quite how “pleasant” the purchase was for Scholten became apparent after two years. He then sold part of the land to the railways for almost the same price. After that, he had the country home demolished, and in 1869 he had a garden pavilion erected at the same location. This pavilion has withstood the test of time well: it still stands today. 

W.A. Scholten also commissioned the sculptures, which date from 1868-1869. The original designs were made in the Parisian iron foundry Société du Val d'Oise. The new Spring from 1990 comes from the Borcherts Foundry in Sappemeer."

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  maker onbekend

• District
  Rivierenbuurt & Herewegbuurt

• Year of creation
  1868

• Art type
  Art in / on a building

• Material
  Paint, Cast iron

• Dimensions
  h 1,40 m