Simon Bening - July

Simon Bening - July 

Summer in northern Europe is also a time for reaping the first spring plantings. 

Bening shows us not only the reapers but across the river a windmill for grinding the harvest and in the distance an exquisite fortified city with a cathedral. 

Now who noticed the two cart horses left to graze while humans fill haywains ? 

 

MAI by Simon Bening

 SIMON BENING _MAI 

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There is a tradition or tropeor theme or whatever you want to call it of Illuminated Manuscripts featuring scenes of Early Summer "MAYING" excursions into the countryside to enjoy the pleasant spring weather and flowers and gathering branches for decorations.

This gouache watercolor is by Simon Bening a Flemish painter and while he has included aristocrats or townsmen on horse back holding branches they have gathered he has also featured a boatload of musicians and singers and captured the shimmer of sunlight on water!