A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter

Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on canvas, c. 1644–1648

The young woman warms her hands above a dish of glowing coals. She personifies Winter. This season was usually represented as a shabbily dressed old man or woman: old because the year is coming to an end, and poor because crops do not grow in the winter. Van Everdingen's choice of a young, richly attired woman is thus rather unusual.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-4878
  • Dimensionsdepth 8 cm, height 97 cm x width 81.5 cm
  • Physical characteristicsolieverf op doek