I have been doing some research on farm buildings etc for a proposed living history site and whilst looking through the famous Duke of Berry’s Tres Riche Heures I noticed something that had escaped my attention before- an interesting structure that I think is a tilt yard. For an online image go to: http://www.christusrex.org/www2/berry/DB-f9v.jpg When I first saw this I got very excited as the Limbourg brothers who illustrated the manuscript died in 1416 and that would make this the earliest depiction, or evidence I have found for a tilt barrier. It stands at the on a pathway from the castle ( Saumur) on a roughly rectangular patch of ground that is devoid of vegetation . There is what appears to be a tilt barrier of wicker construction running down the centre of the yard but not extending the full length of the yard. The yard itself is fenced on two sides and bordered by hedges(?) and the vineyard on one long axis and by what appears to be a slight raised embankment on the other short side. On the right and side of the field there is a structure comprised of pillars which some sources refer to as a montjoy. Unlike every other montjoy I have seen illustrated this shows no evidence of religious statues or a crucifix. In fact it looks very much like the pillar shown in what is known as the Turnierbuch-Pas de Sammur by Rene d'Anjou which describes an event held on that site in 1446. The tilt barrier in the Turnierbuch is different as it is of timber and no list barriers are shown; though in truth it shows very little in the way of backgrounds.
Unfortunately the month of September page was finished by a later hand either in the 1440’s or the 1490’s (choose your source and make your choice). This unfortunately make sit impossible to assign it an earlier date than the 1440’s though it his quite possible that it was in the original drawing made by the Limbourg brothers on that page and simply coloured in by the later illustrators, especially seeing that it occupies a prominent place on the mid-ground of the painting. Is it early 15th century, middle or late – unfortunately we probably will never know, but I thought it was worth posting all the same as it is a very nice mage of what I believe to be a tiltyard shown in its landscape setting.
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
posted 11-21-2006 08:18 PM
