Image: Wikipedia
The
December calendar page from the Très Riches Heures is attributed to
Paul Limbourg. In the foreground is a hunting scene. Judging from the
way the dogs are crowding around the quarry it is difficult to know if
much will be left for the seasonal feasting for which it may be intended for in the chateau
- but perhaps that is just artistic licence.
In
the background is the great French royal palace-fortress of Vincennes. This had originated as a hunting lodge for King Louis VII about 1150, but
had become a major royal residence during the thirteenth century. The
donjon in the centre of the view was built by King Philip VI in 1337,
and is the tallest building of its type in Europe. It was in the donjon
that King Henry V of England and Regent of France was to die in 1422, only a few years after the minature
was painted.The towers on the surrounding curtain wall were reduced to
the height of the walls with one exception in the early 1800s.
There is more about the history and architercture of the fortress to be read at the link Château de Vincennes.
No comments:
Post a Comment