Book of Hours
Gothic Illumination
1530
7.0 x 5.0 cm
The Met Cloisters
This diminutive Book of Hours is one of Simon Bening’s prayerful jewels, intended for use at regular intervals throughout the twenty-four- hour day (ideally every three hours). It was a reminder of the omnipresence of God, meant to be attached to its owner, or stored with precious possessions. There is a special magic achieved by Bening’s exceptional skill at creating a miniature world. The miniatures follow standard convention, but Bening consistently tweaks the presentation, making this manuscript exceptionally poignant and affecting.
simon bening (1483 – 1561)
Simon Bening (1483-1561): Flemish miniaturist & illuminator. Known for landscapes, book of hours, & portraits. A key figure in Netherlandish art.
The Met Cloisters (New York City, United States of America)
Experience the legendary Unicorn Tapestries at The Met Cloisters in New York City, a breathtaking reconstruction of medieval Europe that offers an immersive journey through monastic art and history waiting to be explored.
About this artwork
- Title: Book of Hours
- Artist: simon bening
- Year: 1530
- Original dimensions: 7.0 x 5.0 cm
- Format: Panoramic
- Copyright status: Public domain
- Where to see it: The Met Cloisters
- Movement: Gothic Illumination
- Corpus context: royal patronage influence, book of hours genre classic
- Keywords: european art history, religious artwork, book of hours art
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