Topics
Medieval
The Middle Ages are routinely underestimated. Far from a dark interlude between Antiquity and the Renaissance, the medieval period produced extraordinary art, complex institutions, and ideas that shaped everything that followed. These essays explore medieval Europe on its own terms — from the theology behind illuminated manuscripts and burial practices, to the civil wars and banking revolutions that built the cities we still visit today.
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 8: September Page
The page illustrates a two-phase painting depicting a grape harvest and knightly jousting, highlighting the stark societal divide in the…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 7: August Page
This page juxtaposes the aristocracy and the peasantry simultaneously. Aristocrats enjoy the sport of hawking, where spaniels and hawks worked…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 6: July Page
The July page illustrates summer harvest activities and sheep shearing near the Château of Poitiers, enhanced by the duke of…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 5: June Page
The June page, created by Barthélemy d’Eyck in the 1480s, illustrates peasant haymaking activities vital for livestock feeding. The scene…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 4: April & May Pages
The April and May pages illustrate the lives of medieval nobility, highlighting a betrothal and May Day festivities. Marriage served…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 3: March Page
The March page illustrates a peasant scene with Château de Lusignan, highlighting the duke of Berry’s influence. Peasants prepare land…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 2: February Page
The February page of Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry presents a peasant scene contrasting with January’s depiction.…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 1: January Page
The January page of Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry illustrates the duke at an extravagant Epiphany feast,…
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The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 0: Key Background
Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is a 15th-century illuminated manuscript, significant for its artistic beauty and insights…
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Mona Lisa is not Mysterious or Enigmatic, part 3: Portraiture in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance
The text explores the emergence of Humanism during the medieval-Renaissance period, highlighting the influence of Antiquity on intellectual creativity. It…
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