Contents Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

september, château de saumur





several of miniatures depict duke, fields or castles owned, , places visited. shows personal function of book of hours, customized suit patron (cazelles , rathofer 1988).






the september miniature painted in 2 phases: first, upper section sky , château painted in middle of fifteenth century, around 1438-1442, in time of rené d’anjou , yolande d’aragon; lower scene of grape-picking completed jean colombe sketch left predecessor. in general, artists started background, painted in characters before finishing faces.






in foreground, grape-picking time. woman in white , red apron looks pregnant. other young peasants picking purple bunches, while 1 of them tasting grapes. further character holding basket walking towards mule carrying 2 panniers. grapes being loaded either mules panniers or vats on cart pulled 2 oxen.






in background stands château de saumur chimneys , weathervanes decorated golden fleurs-de-lys. built louis ii d anjou given wife yolande d’aragon, mother of king rené , mother-in-law of charles vii, on whom had considerable sway. presence of château can explained important role played yolande in years of reign of charles vii , how king enjoyed staying there. on left, behind enceinte, stands clock-tower, chimneys of kitchens , gate leading drawbridge. horse coming out , woman basket on head on way in.






in front of château, between vines , moat can seen tilting ground surrounded palisades, tournaments held.






the architectural design of château draws gaze towards dreamily poetic volutes. towers conceal protective nature beneath festive trappings, redolent of fabulous adventures in forests of arthurian legends , suggestive of presence of god in creation. françois cali put it: these extravagant towers dream landscape constellations of canopies, pinnacles, gables , arrows, crockets fluttering against light.






in middle of grape pickers, character showing behind. intentionally grotesque touch contrasts extraordinary elegance of château. jean colombe s peasants lack dignity have in other miniatures.




the anatomical zodiac man



purgatory, f. 113v, jean colombe



anatomical zodiac man: folio 14




the anatomical zodiac man concludes calendar. twelve signs of zodiac appear on corresponding anatomical regions. contains berry s coat of arms of 3 fleurs-de-lis on blue background. such image appears in no other book of hours, astrology 1 of berry s interests, , several works on subject in berry s library. 2 figures regarded male , (looking out @ viewer) female, pognon finds both strangely hermaphrodite , , intentionally so.




readings gospels: folios 17–19
prayers virgin: folios 22–25
fall of man: folio 25




this part represented in 4 stages within same miniature. fall of man thought have been jean de limbourg , belong series of miniatures not intended très riches heures.




hours of virgin matins: folios 26–60




illustrated cycle of life of virgin, page showing rest on flight egypt jean colombe.




psalms: folio 61–63




the illustrations psalms employ literal interpretation of text rare late medieval period (manion 1995).




the penitential psalms: folio 64–71




this section begins fall of angels , bears lot of similarity panel painting sienese painter dating 1340 1348, @ louvre (longnon, cazelles , meiss 1969). limbourgs may have known work. miniature has been identified not intended très riches heures. final opening has double-page image of procession of saint gregory surrounds text columns, depictions of skyline of rome.




hours of cross: folios 75–78




in section christ depicted man of sorrows, exhibiting wounds , surrounded instruments of passion. common iconographic type in fourteenth-century manuscripts (cazelles , rathofer 1988).




hours of holy ghost: folios 79–81


pentecost, f. 79r



office of dead: folios 82–107




colombe painted miniatures of section, other “hell”, painted limbourg brother. “hell” based on description thirteenth-century irish monk tundal (cazelles , rathofer 1988). miniature may not have been intended manuscript. meiss , subsequent writers have argued full-page miniatures codicological data show inserted on single leaves not designed très riches heures (including anatomical man, folio 14v; fall, folio 25r; meeting of magi, folio 51v; adoration of magi, folio 52r; presentation, folio 54v; fall of rebel angels, folio 64v; hell, folio 108r; map of rome, folio 141v). margaret manion, however, has suggested that, although subjects handled in innovative manner, fit within context of prayerbook , have been part of developing collaborative plan.






the funeral image shows reputed incident @ funeral of raymond diocres, famous parisian preacher, when in middle of requiem mass said have lifted coffin lid, , announced congregation have been condemned judgement of god .




short weekday offices: folios 109–140




the presentation of virgin takes place in front of bourges cathedral, in berry s ducal capital (longnon, cazelles , meiss 1969).




plan of rome: folio 141
hour of passion: folio 142–157
masses liturgical year: folios 158–204




folio 201 depicts martyrdom of andrew apostle. duke of berry born on saint andrew s day, 1340; consequently miniature of great importance him (cazelles , rathofer 1988).






^ reynolds, 530
^ cite error: named reference alexander invoked never defined (see page).
^ pognon, 10, 16–40
^ pognon, 40; bober 1948, pp. 2–3; cazelles , rathofer
^ pognon, 40
^ pognon, 66
^ pognon, 71–73
^ cite error: named reference manion309 invoked never defined (see page).
^ pognon, 74