A detailed illumination from the Belles Heures, depicting the biblical figure of Hezekiah amidst flames, rendered in the International Gothic style.

This illumination originates from the Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry, a manuscript produced by the Limbourg brothers between 1405 and 1408. The scene depicts the biblical figure of Hezekiah, King of Judah, during his period of illness and subsequent recovery. The composition is divided between the pictorial narrative on the left and the Latin text on the right, which is written in a formal Gothic script.

The artist employs a distinct approach to the depiction of fire and rocky terrain. The flames are rendered with sharp, linear strokes, creating a sense of movement against the dark, solid forms of the rocks. The figure of Hezekiah is positioned within this environment, his posture conveying a sense of physical distress. The use of gold leaf in the surrounding decorative elements provides a contrast to the sombre tones of the central scene.

As practitioners of the International Gothic style, the Limbourg brothers were known for their attention to detail and their ability to integrate narrative elements into the constraints of a manuscript page. This work demonstrates their technical proficiency in tempera, a medium that allowed for the precise application of colour and fine detail. The integration of the historiated initial, containing a small portrait, with the main illustration shows the typical layout of a devotional book from this period. The work remains a primary example of the high level of craftsmanship associated with the court of the Duc de Berry, reflecting the aesthetic preferences of the early fifteenth-century European aristocracy.