Limbourg Brothers: illuminators

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Limbourg Brothers

 

The Limbourg Brothers are among the very few manuscript illuminators whose names are known to history. Herman, Paul, and Johan Limbourg were Dutch painters in the early fifteenth century who gained their fame largely from the magnificent Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, a Book of Hours they were commissioned to do for John, the Duke of Berry, who was a brother of King Charles V of France and Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy. Philip had employed the brothers’ uncle as a painter and also gave them a major commission to illuminate a Bible. After Philip’s death they went to work for Duke John.

 

 Jean, duc de Berry, from the Trés Riches Heures

The Trés Riches Heures is one of the masterpieces of manuscript illumination. One of its outstanding features is a series of paintings illuminating the months of the years with images portraying each month, such as peasants working at the harvest.

 

 

 Illustration for June

 

 Illustration for May

 

 

 St. Martin

 St. John