The Horseman of Death 

The Limbourg brothers made this illumination, "The Horseman of Death," with pigments and gold on vellum. These materials were traditional for elite manuscript production, but here they take on a decidedly unsettling character. The finely ground pigments create a jewel-like surface, yet the image depicts a grim scene: Death, in the form of a mounted skeleton, leading an army of the dead. They emerge from their graves to menace the living. The gold leaf, typically a symbol of divinity or royalty, ironically highlights the horror of the scene. The Limbourg brothers were masters of their craft, meticulously applying each layer of paint to achieve a sense of depth and detail. But in this image, their skill serves to amplify the macabre subject matter, reminding us that even the most beautiful things can be tinged with mortality. The high level of skill and precious materials contrasts sharply with the message of death and decay, a potent reminder of the social upheaval and fear of disease prevalent in the late medieval period.