The Four Seasons (also known as the 59th Street Bridge Seasons)
Outdoor public sculpture, allegorical monument • Attributed to Gregg Wyatt
Style & Movement
Contemporary Realism / Neo-Classical Allegory
Medium & Technique
Cast bronze with green-brown verdigris patina; constructed with a spherical armillary-style frame and figurative caryatids
Creation Period
Late 20th Century (specifically 1992)
Dimensions & Format
Monumental scale; approximately 15-20 feet in height; circular configuration (in the round)
Subject Description
Four female figures (three visible in frame) function as caryatids supporting a large armillary-style globe. Each figure represents one of the four seasons through specific attributes: 'Summer' is depicted as a nude female figure with a wide-brimmed hat, while 'Autumn' is shown with wheat and harvest symbols. The composition symbolizes the passage of time and the cyclical nature of the natural world within an urban setting.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good; the bronze shows natural oxidation and weathering consistent with a well-maintained outdoor public artwork
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 - $300,000 (as a public commission installation value)
Auction Estimate
$80,000 - $120,000 (secondary market for smaller studies or maquettes)
Provenance History
Commissioned for public display at the entrance of a commercial complex/plaza near the 59th Street Bridge, New York City; remains in its original public location
Art Historical Significance
Gregg Wyatt is a notable sculptor (Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine). This work is significant for its revival of classical caryatid forms in a modern New York City urban context, bridging the gap between traditional European bronze sculpture and contemporary public art.
Notable Features
The intricate intersect of the armillary rings versus the soft modelling of the female figures; original placement in one of New York's highly trafficked pedestrian plazas near the Queensboro Bridge.
Condition Issues
Surface oxidation (verdigris), minor bird guano deposits, and incidental scratching typical of accessible street-level public art
Conservation Recommendations
Periodic professional cleaning to remove pollutants, application of microcrystalline wax for protection, and regular monitoring of the structural joints of the armillary sphere