217 - Southern European School, probably early 18th century, *The Triumph of Flora*, oil on canvas.

Southern European School, probably early 18th century, *The Triumph of Flora*, oil on canvas. Southern European School, probably early 18th century, *The Triumph of Flora*—an allegory of spring and flowers, oil on canvas, a mythological scene featuring numerous figures set against a vast, idealized landscape. At the center stands a young woman surrounded by her retinue bearing flowers. A lady-in-waiting carries a large basket of flowers on her head, while other figures offer and gather flowers. Above the group float two winged putti holding a garland or laurel wreath. The central figure can likely be identified as Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, spring, and fertility. The flowers, blossoms, and wreaths symbolize the annual rebirth of nature, as well as youth, beauty, love, and abundance. The putti emphasize the festive and amorous nature of the scene. The Arcadian landscape and the procession of flower-bearing figures place the work within the tradition of the so-called “Triumph of Flora” and allegories of spring. Iconographically and compositionally, the painting is in keeping with the Baroque and early eighteenth-century tradition in which mythological subjects were combined with decorative floral still lifes and pastoral landscapes. 122 x 93