Picture of "Summer" from the Four Seasons

Picture of "Summer" from the Four Seasons

The Four Seasons images are four seventeenth century copperplate engravings of probably German or Flemish origin, each depicting a season of the year with each season used as a metaphor for one of the ages of man. They are by no means limited to their most obvious subject, anatomy, but contain allusions to alchemy, astronomy, astrology, zoology, botany, geography, physiology, urology, and palmistry as well.

More information about them can be found here: https://medspace.mc.duke.edu/collections/mk61rg92z?locale=en

In 2000, the History of Medicine Collections and Anthony Benson, formerly of the Division of Educational Medial Services at Duke University School of Medicine, produced an interactive version of The Four Seasons. This version was reprogrammed for the Web, with funds donated by John P. McGovern, MD. The interactive interface is no longer supported as it was created using Flash. The video here is a 5 part recording of the interactive online interface : https://repository.duke.edu/dc/fourseasons/79ef392a-36c0-407e-97bd-2ea160096a0e