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![[Picture: Harvest Time]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/LaFranceIllustree-1878/pages/223-les-vendages/223-les-vendages-q75-352x500.jpg "[Picture: Harvest Time]")
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Les Vendages, Drawing by Yan’ Dargent.
The picture is framed on either side by poles with grapevines gropwing up then, and by an arch overhead with vines. There are also what appear to be pumpkins and summer squash and apples in the foreground, a small wooden cart overladen with grapes, perhaps that of a child, and, in the background, workers picking or carrying grapes.
Jean-Édouard Dargent (1824 – 1899) was a French artist who generally painted scenes from Brittany. I found no information about the engraver, A. Ecosse.
The picture appeared in October 1878, which seems late for harvest here in Canada, but in France itś another matter!
The text accompanying the picture might be translates into English as follows:
Despite the weather, which this year has hindered all the fieldwork, we have nevertheless arrived at the time of the grape harvest... one of the greatest festivals of our countryside.
What could be more beautiful, indeed, than this time of year when nature seems to be covered in a livery of fiery colors. Amidst these numerous green and orange leaves, already uncertain on their stems, the Virginia creeper stands out with its bright red against the range of this diverse foliage.
Many workers rush to harvest the precious fruit. It is a general joy and the owners themselves, accompanied by their family and friends, come to mingle with the harvesters and take their part in the work of picking, occasionally gleaning for their own profit, except to atone, when the time comes, for the slight thefts committed by them in the vineyards.
Even the graceful children themselves, before returning to school, deploy all their energy to take part in these joyful autumn celebrations.
(p. 227)
The French original is as follows:
Un dépit du temps qui, cette année, est venu contrarier tous les travaux champètrs, nous n’en sommes pas moins arrivés à l’époque de vendages… une des plus grandes fêtes de nos campagnes.
Quoi de plus beau, en effet, que cette époque de l’année où la nature semble se couvrir d’une livrée aux ardentes couleurs. Au mileu de ces nombrouses feuilles vertes, oranges, déjà incertaines sur leurs tiges, il n’est pas jusqu’à la vigne vierge qui ne vienne trancher par son rouge vif sur la gamme de ce multiple feuillage.
Nombreux sont les ouvriers qui s’empressent á la récolte du précieux fruit. C’est une joie genèrale et les proprietaires, eux-mêmes, accompagnmés de leur famille et de leurs amis, viennent se mêler aux vendangeurs et prendre leur part aux travaux de la cueillette, grapillant à l’occasion pour leur profit, sauf à expier, letemps venu, les légers lareins commis par eux dans les vignes.
Il n’est pas jusqu’aux gracieux enfants eux-mêmes, qui, avant leur rentrée en classe, ne déploient toute leur activité pour prendre part à ces joyeuses fêtes de l’automne.
