Spring

The Louvre's 'Spring' of 1573 is a later and notably refined version of Arcimboldo's seasonal spring composition, executed a decade after the first Seasons series and reflecting his increasing mastery of the composite formula. By the early 1570s Arcimboldo had served Emperor Maximilian II for over a decade and was beginning to produce a second set of the Seasons — the Louvre panel is thought to belong to this second series. The later Seasons show greater sophistication in integrating the component flora, with more fluid transitions between individual blooms and a stronger sense of three-dimensional volume in the head as a whole. The Paris version is also notable for the refinement of the costume element: the neck is dressed in a garment of woven stems and leaves, distinguishing the figure as a noble personification rather than merely a botanical arrangement. The Louvre acquired the panel as part of the French royal collection's broad accumulation of Habsburg-associated imagery. Arcimboldo remained in imperial service until 1587, and his reputation was confirmed by the Order of the Count Palatine conferred upon him by Emperor Rudolf II in 1592, shortly before his death. The Louvre's Spring stands as one of the finest surviving examples of his mature seasonal imagery.

Painted in oil on canvas, the 1573 Spring shows more assured compositional integration than earlier versions — blooms are positioned with greater variety of angle and overlap, creating genuine spatial depth. The palette is lighter and cooler than the autumn pendant, with whites, pinks, and soft greens establishing the mood of renewed growth. Surface quality remains excellent.