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  • image SG82

The Labours of the Months: February, stained glass roundel, After Hans Bol? Netherlandish, c.1600

Clear glass with brown paint

Diameter: 177mm

Museum number: SG82

On display: Bedroom (pre-booked tours only)
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house. For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit

Curatorial note

Watched by onlookers from an arched bridge in the immediate foreground, townsfolk skate on a frozen river. To the left rises a walled city with Gothic towers, while two windmills are visible in the countryside beyond. The roundel is inscribed FEBRVARIVS and has the Zodiac sign of Pisces (two fishes) in the sky.

One of three panels with SG83 and SG84, from a series of The Labours of the Months from the same workshop. The scenes chosen to represent the months were varied and popular both in religious and domestic settings, and often give insights into medieval life. Popham pointed out the similarities of the style of these examples to that of Hans Bol (1534-1593), whose miniature landscapes, peopled with small figures, were much in favour with print makers. However, the designs for these glass-paintings are not found in the standard compilations of Netherlandish prints.

Literature

Catalogue of the Stained Glass in Sir John Soane's Museum, Special Issue of the Journal of Stained Glass 2004, p 215


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