March - Très Riches Heures

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March brings my 12 month exploration of Les Très Riches Heures to its conclusion.

Spring is on the way, the snow has melted, and the peasants are preparing the fields and vineyards for the new growing season. In the background, situated on a hill top, is Château de Lusignan which dominates the farmland surrounding it. The château in the Départment of Vienne was a formidable structure with multiple defensive walls and was owned by the Duc de Berry in the early 15th century. To the right we can see a tower with a protective gilded dragon on its summit.

At the top left a shepherd with his horse and dog are looking after a flock of sheep; below are three peasants pruning vines; to their right is a vineyard which has already been prepared for the spring growing season; at the far right is a peasant sifting a bag of seed corn; and in the foreground we see a peasant ploughing a field with 2 oxen. The Limbourg brothers were keen to show how important agriculture was to the peasant economy and how dependent upon them were the aristocracy for the upkeep of their castles, châteaux and lands.

The blue lunette shows the zodiac sign for Pisces in the first half of the month and Aries in the second half. In the centre the chariot of the sun continues it's yearly cycle through the heavens.

Note: The illuminations painted for the Book of Hours inspired several of the backdrops to sets used by Laurence Olivier in his film of Shakespeare's play Henry V.

The original of Les Très Riches Heures is held in the Musée Condé, Chantilly. Due to conservation concerns it is no longer available for the public to see.

February Très Riches Heures here.

To view the 12 months of the year in more detail commence here with April.

February - Très Riches Heures

This illustration is in striking contrast to the January Très Riches Heures which showed a colourful gathering of aristocrats feasting in opulent surroundings. Here we see peasants tackling the daily grinding chores of winter.  In the background nestling below a leaden grey sky is a snow covered village. Two men can be seen - one chopping wood, and the other delivering it to the village strapped to a donkey. Some lovely details showing a snow covered haystack, a dovecote, and four bee-skeps? Looking very similar to mine.  In the foreground a sheep pen, the sheep huddled together for warmth, and a group of Magpies, pecking seeds.  A cut away image of a peasant's home shows two men and a women endeavouring to warm themselves in front of the fire. The women modestly averts her eyes as she lifts her dress, whilst the two peasant men show no such inhibitions and reveal all!  A further peasant wrapped in a shawl rushes quickly from the cold towards the house. 

The February blue lunette shows the zodiac sign for Aquarius and Pisces. In the centre the chariot of the sun continues it's yearly cycle through the heavens.
This is the penultimate post showing Les Très Riches Heures.

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P.S

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During the middle ages male peasants wore an undergarment called braies. Generally they wore a tunic over the top but during the hot summer weather nothing else. Braies were closed with a drawstring at the waist as per image.
Month of March here.

January - Très Riches Heures

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The first of January dawns with gift giving. We can see some of the wealthy friends of the Duc de Berry bringing New Year gifts to their lord.  He can be seen seated on the right at a table laden with food for a banquet. He is dressed in a striking blue robe decorated with gold fleurs de lys - indicating his support for the French monarchy. Behind him to the right are two young men wearing black head gear - it is thought that they are two of the Limbourg brothers who painted most of the Très Riches Heures.

On the wall behind the revellers is a wonderful tapestry showing scenes from the Trojan War (although the soldiers are dressed in 15th century uniforms). It is considered to be a reference to the war which was currently being fought against King Henry V of England who defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
Note: As a result of a comment now received from Perpetua I can include some extra information. Perpetua watched a programme called the Tudor Monastery Farm on hospitality. This enabled her to recognise that the two young men in front of the table are pages, charged with serving their lord and his guests at table. It is possible to tell this by the lace-edged towels draped over the shoulder or tied diagonally across the body.

This is a glorious, very colourful, and detailed illustration showing the extravagant lifestyle of noble families at that period.
It is hard to imagine now, but Christmas as we know it was not celebrated until the beginning of the 19th century. Even then many businesses did not consider it a holiday, but by the end of the century it had become the biggest annual celebration and took on the form that we recognise today. Most of the symbols that are connected to Christmas i.e the tree, crackers, christmas cards, the turkey dinner can be attributed to Queen Victoria and her marriage to the German born Prince Albert. As in the Très Riches Heures illustration above, gift giving traditionally used to take place at New Year.

The blue lunette shows the zodiac sign for Capricorn in the first half of the month and Aquarius in the second half. In the centre the chariot of the sun continues it's yearly cycle through the heavens.

February Très Riches Heures here.

December - Très Riches Heures

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With this December post from the illuminated manuscript of Très Riches Heures I am ¾ of the way through the 12 month cycle. What exactly is the Très Riches Heures? It is the calendar section of a medieval book of hours. The book of hours was a medieval collection of texts for each liturgical hour of the day - hence the name - it often included other supplementary texts - calendars, prayers, psalms and masses for certain holy days. Très Riches Heures is arguably the most beautiful part of the manuscript; it is without doubt the best known, and is one of the great art treasurers of France.
This month shows the forest of Vincennes, fabled for its game. The hunt is just about over; the boar has been run to ground and the dogs have fallen upon it. As I mentioned here both the November and the December illustrations were not carried out by the Limbourg brothers due to their deaths, thought to be from the plague. This illustration is considered to be the work of Barthelemy d'Eyck, however, the lunette is by the three Limbourg brothers. They painted all 12 lunettes - presumably they painted the lunettes first before commencing on the main monthly illustrations. 
In the background is Château de Vincennes which had its origins in an 11th century hunting lodge, and was the birth place of the Duc de Berry, who commissioned Très Riches Heures from the Limbourg brothers.

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Château de Vincennes is a massive royal castle in the town of Vincennes to the east of Paris. Mainly constructed during the 14th century by Charles V but enlarged during the 17th century, it was one of the most important castles in French history.
The blue lunette shows the zodiac sign for Sagittarius  in the first half of the month and Capricorn in the second half on the cusp. In the centre the chariot of the sun continues it's yearly cycle through the heavens.
Month of January here.

November Très Riches Heures

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There is a definite change of style in the manuscripts for the months of November and also December - both of which were done by different painters. The Limbourg brothers did the top tympanum showing the star signs of Scorpio on the left and Sagittarius on the cusp with the chariot of the sun making it's way through the heavens in the centre. However, the main image for November was carried out by 14th century painter, Jean Colombe, probably due to the deaths of the Limbourg brothers. I have mentioned previously that they all died in the same year - it is thought from the plague. Colombe's work is considered to have been carried out in a rather less delicate way, but it is an image that I like. The manuscript shows the autumn acorn harvest being devoured by pigs with a rather amusing looking peasant striking a dramatic pose whilst throwing sticks to dislodge acorns from the trees. It is possible to see an idyllic valley and lake view beyond the forest and a couple more peasants watching their pigs foraging around. The stylised trees remind me of naturalistic work seen in the 'Art Nouveau' and 'Art Deco' periods. The pigs are characterful, very fat, lots of meat on their hind quarters, and the dog is striking a pose which implies  'I am in charge'. Unlike the images done by the Limbourgs this landscape has no provenance.
Month of December can be seen here.

October - Très Riches Heures

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The month of October shows the Louvre Palace as it looked in the 15th century when home to Charles V. The Palais du Louvre was originally a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip ll. Remnants of the original fortress are still visible in the basement of the Louvre Museum today.

The blue tympanum shows the Libra zodiac signs for October, the scales in the first part of the month and Scorpio on the cusp. In the centre the chariot of the sun making it's yearly cycle through the heavens.

Autumn preparations are underway with a peasant on horseback tilling the ground. Note the stone on the harrow helping the teeth to penetrate deeper into the soil. He is followed by a further peasant sowing seeds in the furrows. The magpies and crows are enjoying the seeds as they are sown. The field beyond has already been sown and shows a scarecrow in the form of an archer. Looking carefully you can see some threads crossing the field which are hung with feathers to further deter the birds. Beyond is the River Seine, busy with people walking along the towpath, boatmen hailing business, and women washing clothes.

This month I thought that it might be interesting to learn a little more about the three brothers who painted the manuscript for their patron the Duc de Berry.

The Limburg brothers: Paul, Herman and Jean were born in Nimwegen in the Duchy of Guelders (present day Netherlands) and referred to as 'alemant' (German). The brothers were raised in an artistic family and began working in the arts at a young age. Paul was in the duke's employ by 1408, and his brothers no later than 1410; they all enjoyed a friendly relationship with their patron. After completing another manuscript the Belles Heures in 1412, they were chosen by the duke to paint the Très Riches Heures in 1413. 

They laboured on the manuscript for two years, then all of them died during 1416. It is thought most likely that they caught the plague. The duke also died in that same year and Charles l, Duc de Savoie became the second patron of the work.

The month of November can be found here.

September Très Riches Heures

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The month of September is considered to be the most famous of the calendar images. The grapes are being harvested by the peasants and carried into the beautifully detailed Château de Saumur, which remarkably looks almost the same today. One of the peasant men is busy eating some grapes and licking the juice from his fingers. The peasant lady standing beside him looks pregnant but I think it may be because she has bundled her dress up under her apron. The Limbourg brothers, who painted the manuscripts, show their sense of humour with an amusing rear view of a peasant. In the blue tympanum are the star signs for Virgo and the scales for Libra. The chariot of the sun forever making it's yearly cycle through the heavens in the centre.

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Château de Saumur is located in the town of Saumur, in the Maine-et-Loire.  It was originally constructed in the 10th century by Theobald l, Count of Blois, as a fortified stronghold against the Norman plunderers. It overlooks the confluence of the Loire and the Thouet. In 1026 it came into the hands of Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou, who bequeathed it to his Plantagenet heirs. Following its destruction in 1067 the castle was rebuilt during the last quarter of the 12th century by Henry ll of England. The September Très Riches Heures shows the Château as it looked in 1412 when the Limbourg brothers painted the manuscript for their patron, the Duc de Berry.

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Month of October can be found here.

August - Très Riches Heures

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August depicts a group of noble men and women on horseback with the men carrying falcons. They are accompanied by dogs and a Falconer. Behind them a small group of peasants are taking a refreshing dip in the river whilst others scythe the corn and place it in bundles to be collected by the horse and cart seen on the left. The Duc de Berry's Château d' Étampes can be seen in the background.

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All that remains of Château d' Étampes today

The blue tympanum shows the star signs for August of Leo the lion and Virgo the virgin. Again the chariot of the sun continues to make it's yearly cycle through the heavens in the center. 

In the July post for Très Riches Heures, I mentioned that I would describe the minerals and plants used to paint the manuscript.

Amongst the more unusual colours used to paint the manuscripts by the Limbourg brothers was vert de flambe, a green obtained from crushed flowers mixed with massicot (massicot is a lead oxide). A further green was made from malachite and wild irises. 

Pink: extracted from the boiling down of red dyewood. 

One shade of red was made from red oxide of lead; another, vermillion, produced from cinnabar or mercuric sulfide; a third made from red ocher. 

An ultramarine made from crushed Middle Eastern lapis-lazuli and used for the brilliant blues, along with cobalt. 

Violet: a colour extracted from sunflowers. 

Yellows: one shade from a monoxide of lead, the other from arsenic trisulfide 

White: made with white lead ore 

Black: made from either soot or ground charcoal. They also used gold leaf and gold ormolu powder.

It is not surprising that medieval painters often died at a very early age from handling toxic substances such as lead, mercury and arsenic, and as many of you will be aware, artists do have a tendency to put brushes in their mouths to give them a sharp point whilst carrying out very fine details on paintings.
Month of September here.

July - Très Riches Heures

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This month I thought that it would be interesting to consider how the illustrations of Très Riches Heures would have been painted. The artists ground the minerals or plants used on a slab of marble moistened with water and thickened with either gum Arabic or tragacanth gum to ensure it would stick to the vellum. The colours in the illustrations include white, black, pink, violet, three shades of red and two shades each of blue, green, and yellow. The detailed work would have required the Limbourg brothers to use extremely fine brushes and most likely the use of a magnifying lens. Next month I will describe which minerals and plants were used for the colours in the manuscript.

We know that the manuscript was customised for it's patron, the Duc de Berry and therefore the illustrations depict his own properties i.e. his fields, castles, and servants.

In July the summer harvest is underway. As the corn or wheat is scythed we can see flowers, probably poppies, growing in it. The château de Poitiers is shown in the background, which no longer exists - the Duc de Berry was also known as the Count of Poitiers. A man and woman are shearing the sheep then rolling the skins into bundles. The château is moated with a wooden bridge connecting it to the surrounding land, but it has a drawbridge to keep it secure. The details of the bull rushes and willow trees growing along the waterside are finely detailed.

The blue tympanum at the top shows once again the chariot of the sun making it's yearly cycle through the heavens, the July zodiac signs of Cancer the crab and Leo the lion.

Très Riches Heures for August can be found here.                  

June - Très Riches Heures

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The month of June shows the Hotel de Nesle, the Duc de Berry's Parisian residence, and Sainte Chapelle clearly on the right looking much the same as it does today. It was possible to see the same residence in the month of May but only the rooftops were visible. 

It is hay making time - the men are scything the meadow in unison, whilst the ladies are raking and stacking the hay into neat piles.

The slate roofs of the Palace rise against the blue Parisian sky, and if you click on to the picture it is possible to see the minute details in the background. The river Seine flows past the meadow edged with willow trees and an inlet of bullrushes. A ferry lady has just dropped someone off at one of the palace entrances and he can be seen running up the steps to the palace doorway. There is a beautifully manicured garden tempting us over the palace walls and once inside a covered stairway with people going up and down. When clicking the image it is also possible to see one of the maidens has her foot still within the uncut grass.

Once again the blue tympanum at the top carries the chariot of the sun making its yearly cycle through the heavens, and the June zodiac signs of Gemini the twins and Cancer the crab.

This book of hours is a form of breviary where the prayers are intended for recital at the canonical hours of the liturgical day. Canonical hours refers to the division of day and night for the purpose of prayers. The regular rhythm of reading led to the term 'book of hours'.

Note 

A Breviary consists of a number of prayers and readings in a short form. 

Month of July here.

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Flaming June by Fredrick Lord Leighton

Hoping that June lives up to its reputation - that the sun shines on all of you spreading its warm golden rays of happiness to us all. This last May day on the cusp of June has started well with the sun high in the sky, the butterflies flitting around, and the birds singing.

May - Très Riches Heures

In April I began showing the monthly illustrations from Très Riches Heures - welcome to May.

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A May jaunt, a pageant celebrating the "joli mois de Mai" in which many are wearing green garments known as livrée de mai, they have green foliage in their hair, wreathed around their necks and decorating their horses. The riders are young noblemen and women - princes and princesses. In the background is Hôtel de Neslè the Duc de Berry's residence in Paris. 
The zodiac symbols in the blue tympanum show Taurus - the bull and Gemini - the twins. As with all of the calendar illustrations in the centre of the tympanum the chariot of the sun makes it yearly cycle through the heavens.

The "Golden Age" of the book of hours in Europe happened around 1350 - 1480; the book of hours became popular in France around 1400 and many major French artists undertook manuscript illumination. John Duc of Berry, the French prince for whom the Très Riches Heures was made was the third son of the future king of France, John the Good. The young prince lived an extravagant life, and commissioned many works of art which he amassed in his Saint Chapelle mansion. Upon his death in 1416 an inventory was done on his estate describing the incomplete and unbound collection of the Très Riches Heures.

See June illustration here.

April - Très Riches Heures

As near to the beginning of each month until March 2014 I hope to show the current calendar month from the illuminated manuscript, Très Riches Heures created for John, Duc de Berry by the three brothers Paul, Hermann, and Jean Limbourg between 1412 - 1416. All three brothers died in 1416 before the work was completed. They were all under 30 years of age and died from an epidemic. The Duke also died later in that same year. The manuscript was further embellished by an anonymous painter in the 1440s whom many art historians believe to have been Barthélemy d'Eyck. In 1485 -1486, it was completed to its present state by the painter Jean Colombe on behalf of the Duke of Savoy. It currently resides in the  Musée Condé, Chantilly, France. 

April

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April shows the arrival of spring, hope and new life - the grass is green and a newly betrothed couple are exchanging rings accompanied by friends and family. The building in the background is Château de Dourdan one of many belonging to the Duc de Berry. The blue tympanum at the top of the painting shows the zodiac signs of Aries - the goat and Taurus - the bull. In the centre of the tympanum is the chariot of the sun as it makes it yearly cycle through the heavens. 

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Château de Dourdan today - built by Philip ll Augustus of France in 1220s - Essonne department of France

 Très Riches Heures for the month of May here

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Just as we departed on our holiday this wonderful book arrived in the post from Gina of the beautiful blog - Art and Alfalfa.

It is the most glorious celebration of Victoria Women botanical painters - the page edges shine with gold, and I love it - thank you so much Gina♥

Lastly the tote bag winner is comment No. 38 which is..............

Erica from the blog Parvum Opus which shows exquisite musings on desk accessories, books and decorative arts.

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