The Feeding of the Multitude 

The Limbourg brothers made this illumination on vellum, likely around the early 15th century. Vellum, made from animal skin, provides a luminous surface for the vibrant pigments. Consider the lapis lazuli used for the deep blue skies; grinding this precious stone into pigment was painstaking. Likewise, the gold leaf that embellishes the divine figures required skilled application. The brothers would have mixed their own paints, and the tiny size of this work required brushes with only a few bristles. Note the contrast between the fine detail of the figures and landscape, and the flat areas of color. It is a testament to the brothers’ mastery of their materials and the laborious process of manuscript illumination. This piece is not just an image, but an object of devotion, born from careful labor, imbued with social and religious significance. The artistry lies not only in the composition, but in the knowing application of materials and the time-honored traditions that elevate craft to the level of fine art.