December from the Twelve Months Panels
Artist
Karl Theodore Francis Bitter
(Austrian/American, 1867-1915)
Date1892-93
CultureAmerican
MediumMarble
ClassificationSculpture
ProvenanceKarl Theodore Francis Bitter [1867 - 1915], by 1891; Collis Potter Huntington [1821 - 1900], 1891 - his death 1900; inherited by his wife Arabella Huntington, 1900 - her death 1924; inherited by Henry Huntington, 1924 - 1926; purchased at auction by John Ringling, 1924- 1936; donated to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 1936 - present.
Credit LineBequest of John Ringling, 1936
Object numberSN11657.12
By the late 19th century, December was increasingly illustrated with scenes of Christmas gift exchanges. Here, a boy in cowboy dress rides a rocking horse while a young girl reads from a book, recurring images in illustrations of the month. The cotton plant and spinning wheel, with attached distaff, allude to the necessity of making warm clothes.
On View
On viewLocation
- Museum of Art, Gallery 21
Collections