Simon Bening

Self-Portrait, watercolor, 1558

Double-sided leaf by Simon Bening about 1540 Watercolour on vellum, Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Simon Bening (1483–1561) was one of the most famous 16th century miniature painters, the last major artist of the Netherlandish tradition.

Bening, born either in Ghent or Antwerp, was probably trained by his father, illuminator Alexander Bening in the family's miniature painting workshop in Ghent, Flanders. He traveled between Ghent and Bruges and became a member of the guild of San John and Saint Luke in Bruges as an illuminator in 1508. He made his own name after moving to Bruges circa 1510 where he had lived since. From 1517 until 1555 he is listed regularly in the guild's annual accounts. His specialty was the book of hours, but by his time these were becoming relatively unfashionable, and only produced for royalty and the very rich patrons. He also created genealogical tables and portable altarpieces on parchment. Many of his finest works are Labours of the Months for Books of Hours which are largely small scale landscapes, at that time a nascent genre of painting. In other respects his style is relatively little developed beyond that of the years before his birth, but his landscapes serve as a link between the 15th century illuminators and Peter Brueghel. His self-portrait and other portraits equally are early examples of the portrait miniature. Three times (1524,1536, 1546) Bening served as a dean of the calligraphers, booksellers, illuminators, and bookbinders in the Guild of Saint John and Saint Luke.

He created books for German rulers, like Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, and royalty like Emperor Charles V and Don Fernando, the Infante of Portugal.

Master Simon was married twice, and the family artistic tradition continued in 2 of his 6 children (all daughters): Levina Teerlinc became a miniature painter, mostly of portrait miniatures, and emigrated to England, and Alexandrine Claeiszuene became a successful art dealer( in paintings, miniatures, parchment, and silk).

Works

Bening was commissioned by Robert de Clercq, abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Ter Duinen (‘Les Dunes’) at Koksijde near Bruges to illuminate a Benedictional for him sometime between 1519 and 1529. Bening even included Robert de Clercq in a colourful Crucifixion scene. The manuscript is currently held in Cambridge University Library.

Sources

• Hindman, Sandra et al. Illuminations in the Robert Lehman Collection. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1997.
• Morrison, Elizabeth and Kren, Thomas (eds). Flemish Manuscript Painting in Context. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Trust, 2006. ISBN 978-0-89236-852-5

External links

• Gerard David: purity of vision in an age of transition, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Bening (see index)