Artwork

Les Festes du mois de Feburier (February: the Purification of the Virgin)

Les Festes du mois de Feburier (February: the Purification of the Virgin) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper center in plate: Les Festes du Mois de Feburier.; center in plate: S. Matthias le 24./la Chaire S Pierre le 22./la Purification de la Vierge Marie le 2; lower left in plate: L. Gaultier/sculpcit; lower center in plate: Au mois de Feburier la Chandeleur se feste,.../A se bien resjouir et faire les jours gras.;lower right in plate: J. le Clerc/excudit.

About this work

You see a crowded 1603 engraving showing February’s feast days. A line of people carries candles to church. Others feast at long tables. Tiny details show snow, food, even a frozen river.

Gaultier packed six scenes into one page. Look close and you’ll spot a man warming hands by a fire. The paper’s rough texture shows age but the lines stay sharp.

Check how artists used cross-hatching to shade.

Overview

This 1603 engraving on laid paper, titled 'Les Festes du mois de Feburier', depicts the religious and festive events associated with February. Created by Léonard Gaultier, it showcases multiple scenes from the month.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving illustrates various feast days in February, including the Purification of the Virgin Mary, as well as the feasts of Saint Peter and Saint Matthias. It presents a range of activities, from processions with candles to feasting at long tables.

Technique & Style

Gaultier's work is characterized by its dense composition, with six distinct scenes packed into a single page. The use of cross-hatching creates shading, adding depth to the engraving. The rough texture of the aged paper contrasts with the sharpness of the lines.