The artwork, “Calendar: February (Farmyard Scene with Peasants)”, created by the Limbourg brothers in 1416, is an exquisite vellum illustration demonstrating the International Gothic art movement. This piece is part of the celebrated “Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry” series and is currently housed at the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France.
The artwork presents a vivid depiction of rural life in the month of February. The upper portion of the illustration is dominated by a blue arch adorned with celestial symbols and a calendar, indicating the astrological signs for the months of January and February. Below this celestial panel is a detailed farmyard covered in snow, where peasants are engaging in their daily winter activities. In the foreground, a man huddles by the fire inside a wooden structure, while another peasants perform various chores outside in the cold. In the midground, farm animals like sheep are sheltered under a snow-covered roof, and bees are kept in hives. The background shows a winter landscape with a man leading a donkey down a snowy hill, while trees devoid of leaves stand starkly against the winter sky. The scene is characterized by meticulous detail and vibrant colors, embodying the essence of International Gothic style.
