The artwork titled “Calendar: July (Harvesting and Sheep Shearing)” is an illustration crafted by the Limbourg brothers in 1416. The piece, part of the “Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry” series, epitomizes the International Gothic art movement. Rendered on vellum, this artwork is housed in the Musée Condé, located in Chantilly, France.
This exquisitely detailed illustration portrays the idyllic summer activities of July, focusing on the dual labors of harvesting and sheep shearing. The scene captures workers bent over golden fields, meticulously cutting wheat with sickles, while in the foreground, individuals diligently shear sheep. The vibrant, meticulously detailed background features a majestic castle under a clear, azure sky. Above the pastoral scene, an elaborate calendar arch, containing the zodiac symbols of Cancer and Leo, depicts the month of July. The composition exemplifies the refined elegance and intricate detail characteristic of the International Gothic style.
