Grapes to Wine - Illuminated Manuscripts - 12C

1180s Labours of the Months, September, Psalter, France, Central, Latin, British Library, Harley 2895

Most iconography of months evolved from Medieval & early Renaissance art depicting in 12 scenes the rural activities that commonly took place in the months of the year. These early illustrations are important to the development of landscape painting. One of the most important activities was the grape harvest & the making of wine in September. But there were many variations, especially in major wine-growing areas, where more wine related scenes were included. Illustrations from further south, such as Italian cycles, often advance the agricultural scenes a month earlier than ones from the more northern Low countries or England.

Grapes to Wine - Illuminated Manuscript 1180

Psautier de la reine Marie, ca. 1310 VENDANGE weinbau psalter 1180 Harvesting grapes

Autumn Grapes to Wine - Illuminated Manuscript 1180

Weinbau psalter 1180 Bringing harvested grapes to be treaded & pressed into wine

Autumn Grapes to Wine - Illuminated Manuscripts - 12C

Although one of these illuminations concentrates on picking grapes & making wine, the others show men & women in a variety of gardening & farming activities, including eating some of the grapes they are harvesting.  Most iconography of months evolved from Medieval & early Renaissance art depicting in 12 scenes the rural activities that commonly took place in the months of the year. These early illustrations are important to the development of landscape painting. One of the most important activities was the grape harvest & the making of wine in September. But there were many variations, especially in major wine-growing areas, where more wine related scenes were included. Illustrations from further south, such as warmer Italy, often advance the agricultural scenes a month earlier than ones from the more northern Low countries or England.

Fécamp Psalter c. 1180 Manuscript (76 F 13) Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague

Fécamp Psalter c. 1180 Manuscript (76 F 13) Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague

Fécamp Psalter c. 1180 Manuscript (76 F 13) Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague

Fécamp Psalter c. 1180 Manuscript (76 F 13) Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague

Autumn Grapes to Wine - Illuminated Manuscripts - Planting & pruning the vineyard 1100s-1500s

  Book of Hours, France, Loire, ca. 1475, MS G.1 I fol. 3r