The main December labour for the peasant farmers in many Books of Hours seems to repeat November, with the killing of pigs. But the wealthy who would commission and use these wonderful illuminated manuscripts ( and lived in the castles often shown in the background) would hunt the wild boar.
December, a boar hunt. Hennessy Book of Hours, Simon Bening 1530-40
© Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels
This forest image is from the Hennessy Book of Hours: the lord's huntsman blows the 'mort' for the death of the boar, and other handlers hold back the dogs to preserve the carcass, while his master is shown with his long spear on a prancing horse: "they blew the death of the boar, On blaring horns". *
The artist, Simon Bening, suggesting different phases of the chase, contrasts the vivid colour and action of the hunt with the delicacy of the winter forest foliage and the castle turrets behind.
December, from the Tres Riches Heures de Duc de Berry
attrib. Bartelemey d'Eyck c. 1440s © Musee Condé, Chantilly France
This earlier miniature, with its equally expensive and vivid blues and scarlets, includes the zodiac signs, showing Capricorn, the sea-goat, as the calendar enters December. The castle is Charles V's Chateau de Vincennes.
Boar hunts not only provided food for the rich man's feast, but culled the wild boar who would damage woodlands and next year's crops. The famous Boar's Head Carol was first printed in 1521, celebrating the Queen's College Oxford student who, confronted by a wild boar in the woods, thrust his Aristotle text into the boar's mouth, saying 'Graecum Est' (very loosely translated as 'Meet the Greeks') as it choked. But the Boar's head Feast is closely linked with the older pagan Yuletide, as the Norse Goddess, Freya, is shown riding on a wild boar.
Other calendar illustrations for December show a scurry of manual activities before the winter closes in, and in preparation for the Christmas and New Year feasts.
Farmers and labourers are usually shown bleeding the domestic pig's throat.
According to region and climate, some are digging and ploughing for next year's crops, chopping wood, still cutting pigs' throats for blood sausage (black pudding), baking bread, or already feasting. Below is an image from warmer climes - the pigs are still happily feeding while the farmer digs, ready for planting next year's crops.
December, digging. Luca della Robbia ceramic ceiling plaque for Piero de Medici c. 1450-56
© Victoria & Albert Museum
A master baker at work, Hours of Charles d'Angouleme c. 1475-1500
© National Library of France
Note the very clear image of Capricorn with its spiral tail.
These medieval bakers would be in a castle, or a large town, with quantities to feed. The dough trough has changed little in shape through the centuries. (image wikimedia commons)
And finally the feasting, at court, or in prosperous comfort:
Those luxury embroidered table cloths come from Perugia in Italy (image wikimedia commons)
Here is December feasting for the wealthy, in fine domestic comfort, complete with cat.
Rothschild Book of Hours c. 1500-1520 (see National Library of Australia)
Perhaps this December page from The Golf Book best sums up the end of the year activities and the annual cycle of Labours. While the huntsmen chase the deer in the background, the farmer prepares his supplies of bread and pork, so there will be plenty of bacon sandwiches to enjoy in the last month of the year.
From the late 14th century English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. see blog, 24 Dec. 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment