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Summer, 18th century French School
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Summer, 18th century French School
Summer, 18th century French School (possibly by Francois Octavien, 1695-1736). Showing people harvesting in the fields, with a storm in the distance
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Media ID 11469328
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Agricultural Agriculture Bread Change Clouds Corn Fields Francois Harvest Harvesting Haycart Labour Labourer Labourers Resting Season Seasonal Seasons Stooks Storm Wheat Wine Year
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Summer's Bounty and the Approaching Storm: A Scene of Harvesting in 18th Century France This oil painting, believed to be the work of the French School, possibly by Francois Octavien (1695-1736), transports us back to the idyllic yet laborious world of 18th century rural France. The season of summer is in full swing, as evidenced by the golden fields of ripe corn, wheat, and hay. Men and women, dressed in traditional clothing, work tirelessly to reap the bountiful harvest. In the foreground, a man wields a scythe, cutting down the wheat, while another man loads the freshly cut stalks onto a haycart. A woman, her apron stained with the day's labor, rests on a bale of hay, sipping from a cup of wine and nibbling on a crust of bread. The scent of freshly baked bread wafts through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the harvest. However, the serene scene is disrupted by the ominous clouds gathering on the horizon. The dark, foreboding sky presages the arrival of a storm. The stooks, or small stacks of hay, stand tall and proud against the backdrop of the impending weather change. The farmers, aware of the impending storm, work with a sense of urgency, knowing that they must complete their harvest before the rain arrives. This painting is a testament to the hard work and dedication required for agricultural labor during the 18th century. The changing weather, symbolized by the storm, highlights the unpredictable nature of the seasonal cycle and the importance of seizing the moment to reap the rewards of the land. The painting also serves as a historical reminder of the simple pleasures of rural life and the connection between the people and the land.
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