This roundel is one of six acquired by the museum in 1923 (Museum nos.C.123-128-1923). It was originally from a set of 12 roundels depicting the ‘Labours of the Months’. The museum purchased them from the sale of the contents of Cassiobury Park in Hertfordshire. They had probably been installed in the windows of the house when it was remodelled in the early years of the 19th century. We do not know where they were located before that date.

The depiction of the months and occupations associated with them appear early in the Medieval period on church facades and interiors. They also appear in illuminated manuscripts and start to become more common in stained glass in the 14th and, especially, the 15th centuries.

The occupations depicted in these ‘Labours of the Months’ are mostly agricultural and are thus intimately associated with the landed class and their agricultural labourers. They appear in both religious and secular settings.

‘Labours of the Months’ are found all throughout Europe and the occupations depicted are standard but do vary in accordance with the local climate. Harvesting, for instance, began earlier in the year in Southern Europe. Feasting and drinking scenes, mostly aristocratic in form, appear in either December or January in all European countries. These months are traditionally associated with major festivals in the Church year and the consumption of large quantities of meat. Much livestock was killed at this time of year to provide food over the winter months.

Some of the ‘Labours of the Months’ stained glass roundels believed to have been painted in England share the same imagery. This imagery must have come from a common source, most likely from a series of woodblock engravings which may have circulated between the glazing workshops.

In this roundel a man is pruning vines. The scroll above his head tells us that it is the month of March. This was a common occupation in the wine-growing regions of Europe prior to the spring growth. England mostly imported wine but there were a number of wine-growing areas in the country in the medieval period. White grapes were more suited to the English climate.

The back view of the man in this roundel enables us to see how his hose is attached to his tunic. The method here illustrated is known as ‘pourpoint’ in which the tunic and hose are attached with points or laces tied through holes in both garments. At this date the hose is of one piece, rather than two separate pieces of cloth for each leg. Sometimes the hose is held up simply by a rope tied round the waist. It is possible that this figure was to be seen as one wearing clothes of better craftsmanship.

The paintwork on this roundel is very detailed and highly skilled, indicating the work of a prominent glass-painting workshop. The techniques employed include ‘stickwork’ which makes use of a stylus to scrape away areas of paint to produce highlights, as seen in the figure’s gloves and boots. Smear shading and stipple-shading are used to create depth in the background and texture in his garments.