The fountain niches of the Seasons in the Court of the Four Seasons are
graced by Milton Herbert Bancroft's appropriate panels. Two of these,
one on each wall of the fountain niche, are devoted to each season. One
represents the pleasures that that period of the year brings forth for
man; the other shows the duties it demands of him. In "Spring," we have
the poet's conception of the time of blossoms and garlands, of young
loves, piping shepherds and dancing maidens, while the goddess of the
season dreams of coming glories. In the companion panel, "Seedtime," the
waiting farmers attend her as she stands, sceptered with an Easter lily,
and extends her benison on the land. "Summer" crowns the victors in
athletic sports; while in "Fruition" the goddess of the season receives
the tribute of the successful workers of the soil. The panel called
"Autumn" is gay with the dance of the vineyard festival; three happy
figures modeled with grace and much refinement are placed on a
background divided into panels by a vine. But "Harvest" is quiet and
serious; the goddess, bearing the torch of Indian Summer, receives the
sheaves of the gleaners. So in "Winter," one panel shows Festivity, with
the old bard, the Christmas garland and the gaieties of the home; the
other, the distaff by the fireside, the huntsman and the wood-cutter.



Westward March of Civilization
Arch, Nations of the West