Fine Art

Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry: May — History & Facts

Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry: May is a manuscript illumination created by the Limbourg brothers between 1412 and 1416, using tempera on vellum. This miniature forms part of the celebrated Book of Hours commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry, and is one of the monthly calendar scenes that illustrate the cycle of the year. The work is a prime example of early 15th-century French manuscript painting and marks a high point in the careers of the Limbourg brothers. The image depicts the traditional May Day cavalcade, with a procession of young nobles on horseback, led by trumpeters.

The figures are adorned with fresh greenery, and several women wear long green dresses, a custom associated with the May festival. The background features a dense forest and, beyond it, the towers and roofs of a city. Above the scene, the zodiac sign of Gemini and a chariot of the sun are depicted in a deep blue arc, emphasizing the passage of time. Commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry, Très Riches Heures remained incomplete at the time of the Limbourg brothers' deaths in 1416.

The manuscript is renowned for its rich decoration and detailed portrayal of courtly life, and it later passed through several hands before entering the collection of the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France, where it is held today. The calendar miniatures, including the May scene, are frequently cited as masterpieces of International Gothic illumination.

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