Four Seasons – Summer

Robert Frangeš Mihanović (1872 – 1940) is one of the most important names in Art Nouveau in Croatian sculpting. He is one of the artists gathered around the Spring Salon, an outstanding sculptor of animals and a medal maker, a dominant artistic figure at the fin de siècle in Croatia. In 1904 the 1st Yugoslav Exhibition was held in Belgrade; here, among other artists, Frangeš exibited his work. On this occasion some of this works were sold, such as Iron Bender, Jesus Friend of the Young and Study of Justice, as well as the bronze Four Seasons plaques. Each of the plaques was done with a motif of an Art Nouveau-style girl’s head, symbolically showing the season. Spring, Summer and Autumn are composed in such a way as to have each head wreathed with characteristic plant elements – luxuriant foliage, roses, and autumn fruits, while Winter is illustrated by a girl’s head with dishevelled tresses flying in the north wind. The composition of four plaques was done in 1903 in three dimensions, and they are known to have been cast in ceramics as well. The plaques were acquired in 1961 from Marija Ullrich.