The artwork, titled “Curing a Possessed Woman,” was created by the Limbourg brothers and is an illustration on vellum. This piece belongs to the International Gothic art movement and is part of the “Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry” series. It is currently housed in the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France.
The artwork depicts a vivid scene featuring a religious exorcism. In the foreground, a bearded man in a purple robe, who could be perceived as a holy figure, gestures authoritatively towards a distraught woman, who is being restrained and supported by another man. This woman appears tormented and is emblematic of possession. The setting is a highly detailed Gothic architectural structure, adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors. The elaborate decoration is characteristic of the International Gothic style, with gold leaf illumination and delicate, meticulous detailing highlighted. Figures in the background, dressed in opulent robes and headgear, observe the central event with a mix of concern and curiosity. Within the arches of the building’s structure, a dark, sinister figure, perhaps representing the expelled demon, reinforces the narrative of the scene. The artwork exemplifies the Limbourg brothers’ mastery in combining detailed illustrations with theological storytelling, thus creating a complex, visually arresting tableau.
