'March'-ing into spring with the Duc De Berry

At least for the last few days, here in the midwest, Spring has Sprung!

So many of us are in the 'thank god winter is over' mood and our monthly visit with the Duc de Berry shows us a hopeful, productive scene of fields being readied for planting.

This month, our calendar illustrates many typical medieval garments of the medieval 'working class'. Well not as rich in detail as some of the other months, in terms of medieval clothing, it gives a great picture of 'every day' clothing for the 'every man'.

The man in foreground and the smaller figures working in background are shown wearing various versions of Linen or Wool Tunics some with Linen or Wool Cottes layered over them and Belted. We can also see different styles of Linen and Wool Hoods and Sock or Bag Hats for headwear. We catch glimpses of their under layers - Braies, Shirts, Chausesor Joined Hose and they are shod in Turnshoes and Ankle Boots.

Jean Duc De Berry's Book Of Hours - March

The month of March is the first of the great landscapes favored depicted by the Limbourgs in the Très Riches Heures. In careful, crisp detail, the brothers depict the year’s first farm work, a simple scene of plowing set against the grandeur of the Chateau de Lusignan, the home of the fairy queen Mélusine.

The landscape is cut into several sub-scenes, each dedicated to a different sub-plot of land, separated by winding, rural paths, united at a small milestone that resembles one on a subsequent page representing the Meeting of the Magi (folio 51v).

In the background we see a shepherd and his dog, peasants at work in the vineyards and a small, country house. But the scene is dominated by a white-bearded peasant wearing a surcoat over a blue tunic how slowly drives pair of oxen as he guides his plow through the fields. The two oxen are differently colored; the fine reddish hide of the near one stands out in relief against the other, black, animal. The detail is exquisite: the newly tilled earth is covered with faded winter grass, churning it into furrows.