February (Febbraio), by Benedetto da Milano upon drawing by Bramantino, c. 1503-1508, 16th century (tapestry)

Detail. Representation of the month of February, maybe referring to a ritual of purification; in the foreground, two half-bare male figures facing backwards, maybe a reference to god Februus, who was devoted to rituals of purification; the young man in the middle, with limbs, legs and left arm covered with a red mantle, holds a torch while looking at his mate at his right, half-covered with a green mantle, on whose head a third male figure, in a raised position, pours water; on the left, can be glimpsed a man carving a trunk in order to make torches; in the foreground, a black pedestal with an inscription in. Benedetto da Milano Sforza Castle, Milan, Lombardy, Italy