January in the Très Riches Heures: The New Year Feast of the Duc de Berry
Updated: 4 days ago
The January page of the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, painted by the Limbourg brothers c.1412-16, shows the duke at his New Year feast, in a blue robe at a laden table, with courtiers, dogs and a tapestry behind him. It is one of the most famous winter scenes of the Middle Ages.
The facts at a glance
Artists: the Limbourg brothers (Paul, Herman and Jean), from Nijmegen
Patron: Jean, Duc de Berry (1340-1416), brother of the French king Charles V
Date: c.1412-16, left unfinished when the brothers and the duke all died in 1416
Format: a calendar page in a book of hours, about 29 x 21 cm
Today: a Chantilly collection; the book was completed decades later by another painter
What is happening in the January scene?
The duke sits at the right, on a bench beside a large fireplace, and receives his guests at the start of the year. In medieval France, January 1 was the day for exchanging gifts, and the page is built around that custom. A servant stands ready with a knife, others carve and serve, and the table is set with a cloth and gold vessels. Above the whole scene a lunette shows the sun's chariot and two zodiac signs, tying the human feast to the turning sky.
The duke's wrap-around fire screen sits directly behind his head and works like a halo of wicker. Whether the Limbourgs meant a joke or a courtesy, the effect is the same: the host is the brightest thing in the room.
What is the gold ship on the table?
The ornate object in front of the duke is a nef, a table ornament shaped like a ship, used to hold his napkin, knife and spoon and sometimes his salt. It was a piece of status plate as much as a tool. Dukes of Berry were famous collectors of jewels and goldwork, so the nef is not a random prop: it is a record of what the owner of the book owned.
What are the dogs, the tapestry and the inscription?
Under the table, small hunting dogs snap for scraps, which is the cheerful, slightly chaotic note in an otherwise formal picture. Behind the diners hangs a tapestry of a battle scene, usually read as a story from the Trojan War, an expensive wall hanging that again says the owner is rich and cultured. Near the duke, a cleric is often read as saying something like "approach, approach", an invitation that sums up the scene; treat the exact reading with some caution, since the lettering is tiny and has been interpreted in more than one way.
Interested in how painters turned the seasons themselves into subjects? Read about Arcimboldo's Four Seasons and the first great winter landscape, Bruegel's Hunters in the Snow.
Why was the book never finished?
The Limbourg brothers and the Duc de Berry all died in 1416, probably within a short time of each other, and the manuscript was left with several pages unpainted. It was taken up again in the later fifteenth century by another artist, who completed some of the calendar scenes. The January page, however, is a Limbourg original, and its jewel-like colour, thin gold and fine detail are the reason the book is called "very rich hours".
For the world these artists came from, the Northern Renaissance painting guide is the place to start.
January as winter wall art
A manuscript page makes a surprisingly good print. The blue of the robe, the red of the fire and the gold of the table suit a deep winter room, and the portrait format fits narrow walls, entryways and beside a bed. It is also an unusual New Year gift for anyone who likes medieval history.
Zocine Art Design is an independent studio that prints classic paintings as wall art.
Frequently asked questions
Who painted January in the Très Riches Heures?
The Limbourg brothers (Paul, Herman and Jean) painted it c.1412-16 for Jean, Duc de Berry.
What does the January page show?
It shows the duke at a New Year feast, receiving guests at a table with a gold ship-shaped nef, dogs beneath it, and a tapestry behind.
Why was the Très Riches Heures left unfinished?
The Limbourg brothers and the duke all died in 1416, and the book was completed decades later by another painter.
What is a nef on the table?
A nef is a ship-shaped table ornament made of precious metal, used to hold the lord's napkin, cutlery or salt.
Browse the Limbourg brothers and other classic art prints in the archive at Zocine.
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