The Twelve Months (Primary Title)
Plaques with Scenes Representing the Twelve Months (Former Title)
Plaque of twelve enamels (Object Name)
Unknown (Artist)
Formerly attributed to, Jean De Court, French, active 1555 - 1585 (Artist)
On these oval plaques each month is depicted in enamel, after the engravings by Etienne Delaune. Correlating labors-cyclical medieval occupations, from the feasting and courtship of the nobility to the sowing and harvesting of the peasantry-represent each month. All of the plaques display the sign of the zodiac at the top, and each is labeled with the name of the month in French, except July. These plaques were likely nailed to a large casket.
Spain and Islam: Spain was one of the most religiously and culturally diverse regions of medieval Europe, largely because of the presence of Islam. In 711 Syrian Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula from North Africa, struggling for power against Spain's Christian rulers for nearly eight centuries following their initial arrival. Spain had become so thoroughly influenced by its Arabic population by the end of the first millennium that many of the country's Christians and Jews began to share in the cultural and artistic practices of the Muslims. For example, Islamic craftsmen brought the practice of Arabic lusterware to Andalucía in southern Spain, and by the mid-13th century, an Islamic migration to Valencia answered the demand for this opulent craft in the Christian kingdoms of northern Spain. Although both pieces in this case come from the Christianized Spain that followed the expulsion of Muslims in 1492, they each retain elements of a thoroughly Arabized culture.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.