Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Provence, ca. 1440-1450
MS M.358 fol. 2r

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Month, Occupation: February -- Man, drinking from glass in right hand, sits feasting behind table set with food, knife, and serving dishes. Beneath table is warming vessel with burning coals.
Scene set in room with patterned floor and timbered ceiling, all within decorated medallion in lower margin (bas-de-page).
In upper margin, man, wearing armor, holding lance and decorated shield, rides bridled and saddled animal, possibly bull (similar reversed image on verso).
In right margin, man crawls. Leash tied to his right foot is held in left hoof by pig standing on hind legs, wearing money bag and holding switch in right front hoof (similar reversed image on verso).
All figures set within foliate border with flowers and acanthus leaves, surrounding calendar.