Reforming Nature: Agriculture and Moral Renewal in Leandro Bassano’s series of the Months

Leandro Bassano’s series of the Twelve Months presents a striking panorama of human existence, bringing together rural, urban, and religious life in the Venetian mainland. While drawing on Northern European depictions of seasonal cycles, notably those by Bruegel, Bassano’s work stands out for its focus on human labour and its roots in Northern Italian visual traditions. By incorporating urban scenes – such as Carnival and Lent – into an otherwise agricultural calendar, the series creates a layered dialogue between sacred and civic time, as well as between natural and built environments. Currently on view in Vienna, the series of the Twelve Months reflects a contemporary ideal that viewed art and agriculture as forces of moral renewal.

Anca-Delia Moldovan delves into Bassano's series and offers further insight into the special exhibition Arcimboldo – Bassano – Bruegel. Nature's Time, on view at the Kunsthistorisches Museum until June 29, 2025!

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