Spring

Howard Pyle’s Spring presents an allegorical figure of a young woman ensconced in a luxurious display of cherry blossoms. She gently extends three daffodils toward the viewer, while the other hand is pressed tight to her chest. The gesture suggests the act of gift-giving, which is fitting for this painting. Unlike most of Pyle’s work in this gallery, Spring was not commissioned as an illustration, but given as a wedding present to his student Bertha Corson Day in 1902.

Day began studying with Pyle in 1894, completing a four-year course at the Drexel Institute and continuing as an advanced and summer school student. She completed illustrations for novels, advertising, and a book of fairy tales written by Pyle’s sister Katharine in 1902. The painting also served as a farewell of sorts from her mentor. After her marriage, Day gave up commercial illustration.