December - Très Riches Heures

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With this December post from the illuminated manuscript of Très Riches Heures I am ¾ of the way through the 12 month cycle. What exactly is the Très Riches Heures? It is the calendar section of a medieval book of hours. The book of hours was a medieval collection of texts for each liturgical hour of the day - hence the name - it often included other supplementary texts - calendars, prayers, psalms and masses for certain holy days. Très Riches Heures is arguably the most beautiful part of the manuscript; it is without doubt the best known, and is one of the great art treasurers of France.
This month shows the forest of Vincennes, fabled for its game. The hunt is just about over; the boar has been run to ground and the dogs have fallen upon it. As I mentioned here both the November and the December illustrations were not carried out by the Limbourg brothers due to their deaths, thought to be from the plague. This illustration is considered to be the work of Barthelemy d'Eyck, however, the lunette is by the three Limbourg brothers. They painted all 12 lunettes - presumably they painted the lunettes first before commencing on the main monthly illustrations. 
In the background is Château de Vincennes which had its origins in an 11th century hunting lodge, and was the birth place of the Duc de Berry, who commissioned Très Riches Heures from the Limbourg brothers.

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Château de Vincennes is a massive royal castle in the town of Vincennes to the east of Paris. Mainly constructed during the 14th century by Charles V but enlarged during the 17th century, it was one of the most important castles in French history.
The blue lunette shows the zodiac sign for Sagittarius  in the first half of the month and Capricorn in the second half on the cusp. In the centre the chariot of the sun continues it's yearly cycle through the heavens.
Month of January here.