The Four Seasons of Love
Four designs.
Spring: a tailor kneels before a woman and says, "Oh you bewitching Angel behold at your feet a Swain as tender as a Veal Cutlet, You are the very Broad Cloth of perfection—have pity on me Adorable Mrs Griskin." She answers: "You enchanting Devil I do not know what to say to you. however Mr Thimble—that Mole between your eye-brows— put me so much in mind of my poor departed Husband, that I think I cant refuse you."
Summer: the pair walks arm in arm in a landscape, followed by a dog. He says: "O thou wert born to please me My Life my only Dear." She answers: "Ay now you look a little stylish You are a—Charming Man who would not be married."
Autumn: They face each other defiantly, and she holds a letter inscribed "Dear Mr Thimble," and shrieks: "Here you feller here's a pretty commence. An interspected letter from one of your Naughty Women I knew you was going to Gallivant." He answers: "Well Ma'am, since you come for to go to that, who was it Galivanted with Mr Dip the Dyer to White conduit House last Sunday answer me that however I'll have a separation."
Winter:The pair are seated at a table beside a lawyer who reads a paper inscribed: "Articles of Seperation [sic] between Jeremiah and Tabitha Thimble." She says with a smile: "I never felt myself so Comfortable in all my Life." He sits with clasped hands, saying, "O Blessed day for Jerry Thimble I hope to pass the next Year in Peace and quietness."
Spring: a tailor kneels before a woman and says, "Oh you bewitching Angel behold at your feet a Swain as tender as a Veal Cutlet, You are the very Broad Cloth of perfection—have pity on me Adorable Mrs Griskin." She answers: "You enchanting Devil I do not know what to say to you. however Mr Thimble—that Mole between your eye-brows— put me so much in mind of my poor departed Husband, that I think I cant refuse you."
Summer: the pair walks arm in arm in a landscape, followed by a dog. He says: "O thou wert born to please me My Life my only Dear." She answers: "Ay now you look a little stylish You are a—Charming Man who would not be married."
Autumn: They face each other defiantly, and she holds a letter inscribed "Dear Mr Thimble," and shrieks: "Here you feller here's a pretty commence. An interspected letter from one of your Naughty Women I knew you was going to Gallivant." He answers: "Well Ma'am, since you come for to go to that, who was it Galivanted with Mr Dip the Dyer to White conduit House last Sunday answer me that however I'll have a separation."
Winter:The pair are seated at a table beside a lawyer who reads a paper inscribed: "Articles of Seperation [sic] between Jeremiah and Tabitha Thimble." She says with a smile: "I never felt myself so Comfortable in all my Life." He sits with clasped hands, saying, "O Blessed day for Jerry Thimble I hope to pass the next Year in Peace and quietness."
Artwork Details
- Title: The Four Seasons of Love
- Artist: Thomas Rowlandson (British, London 1757–1827 London)
- Publisher: Thomas Tegg (British, London 1776–1846 London)
- Date: September 15, 1814
- Medium: Hand-colored etching
- Dimensions: Sheet: 9 15/16 × 13 7/16 in. (25.2 × 34.1 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
- Object Number: 59.533.1579
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.