Allegory of the Four Seasons and Human Ages

This work by de Vos can almost be read as a book and its meaning gradually deciphered. The central subject is the allegory of the five senses: the mirror stands for sight, the wine and drinks stand for taste, while the rose and dog mean smell: hearing is personified by a playing musical instrument and finally, the embrace of the young couple implies touch. The lovers also symbolise youth, while Bacchus stands for mature age and the couple on the right allude to old age. In this sense, also the course of the seasons in the background develops - from spring to summer to autumn, and finally, frosty winter.