“The Summer (Ruth and Boaz)” is an oil on canvas artwork by Nicolas Poussin, rendered between the years 1660 and 1664. A work emblematic of the Classicism art movement, it measures 118 by 160 centimeters and is categorized as a religious painting set within a landscape. This artwork is part of “The Four Seasons” series and currently resides in the Louvre in Paris, France.
The artwork illustrates a pastoral scene imbued with the warmth and abundance of summer. It depicts the Biblical narrative of Ruth and Boaz from the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. In the foreground, Ruth, the Moabite widow, can be seen gleaning in the fields of Boaz, her future husband. Boaz, thought to be the figure in the yellow mantle, is standing and speaking with another individual, likely offering his protection to Ruth, as recounted in the Biblical text.
Behind this central interaction, other figures are engaged in the labor of the harvest, with workers scattered throughout the golden field collecting sheaves of grain. The variety of poses and activities creates a sense of liveliness and structured rhythm across the canvas. On the right, the image extends to a more idyllic landscape, featuring the calm of a pastoral environment, resting animals, and distant figures that seem to be on the move.
In the background, the fading mountains and the architecture of a classical building suggest a harmonious integration of nature and human endeavor. The large tree to the left anchors the composition and offers a dark counterpoint to the sunlit fields, adding depth to the ostensibly serene setting. The sky, partly filled with clouds, completes the seasonal atmosphere of the painting, suggesting the transitory nature of summer with the promise of rain or perhaps the turning towards another season.
Through “The Summer (Ruth and Boaz),” Poussin explores themes of love, divine providence, and the enduring cycles inherent in both human life and nature, epitomizing the ideals of balance, order, and clarity that define Classicism.
