Artwork

The Peasant Wedding or the Twelve Months: 9-Egidius Herbstmon 10-Simon Weinmon

The Peasant Wedding or the Twelve Months: 9-Egidius Herbstmon 10-Simon Weinmon is a print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1546 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Hans Sebald Beham, a German printmaker active in the mid‑16th century, produced the etching titled *The Peasant Wedding* in 1546. It belongs to his series *The Twelve Months* and exemplifies the compact, meticulously rendered works for which the artist is known.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a rustic wedding celebration set outdoors. Four figures dominate the composition: two armored men with swords, a woman in a loose gown gesturing upward, and a half‑naked figure crowned with laurel and leaning on a spear. The names Egidius Herbstmon and Simon Weinmon appear above the group, suggesting individual participants in the festivity.

Technique & Style

Executed as an etching, the work displays Beham’s characteristic precision on a small scale. Fine line work delineates the uneven ground and sparse vegetation, while the figures are rendered with careful attention to costume and posture, reflecting the artist’s skill in conveying narrative detail within limited dimensions.

History & Provenance

Born in Nuremberg in 1500, Beham spent his early career there before relocating to Frankfurt, where he continued to produce prints. The etching bears his initials in the lower corner, confirming his authorship. It circulated among collectors of the period as part of the broader *Twelve Months* series.

Context

Beham was counted among the “Little Masters,” a group of German artists distinguished by their production of small, highly finished prints. His output includes roughly 250 engravings and over a thousand woodcuts, positioning *The Peasant Wedding* within a prolific body of work that catered to a market for detailed, portable images.