Final answer:
The May calendar page of Les Très Riches Heures is from a Book of Hours and is in the Gothic style. Illuminated manuscripts like this were luxury items during the Gothic period, often elaborately decorated with religious and historical symbolism as well as expensive materials.
Step-by-step explanation:
The May calendar page of Les Très Riches Heures was a page from a Book of Hours, rendered in an ornate, courtly style known as Gothic. This style is characterized by intricate detail, vibrant colors, and often includes religious and historical symbolism. Gothic painting is exemplified in illuminated manuscripts, which were luxury items during the Gothic age. These manuscripts, like the prayer books known as the books of hours, were usually decorated with elaborate illustrations and made with expensive materials such as gold ink and purple-dyed vellum.
Such manuscripts often contained carpet pages, which are full manuscript pages richly decorated to resemble tapestry. Moreover, the influence of the Gothic style extended beyond Christian manuscripts, influencing other cultural works as well. An example of this is seen in the illumination from the Golden Haggadah, suggesting that the dominant style of Christian art had a wider impact during the period.
The Ottonian dynasty also contributed to the tradition of ornate manuscripts, creating bejeweled book covers to protect these precious items. These covers were often adorned with gemstones and intricate carvings, exemplifying the high value placed on manuscript illuminations in medieval times.