The Art of Illumination: The Limbourg Brothers and the Belles Heures

The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry (~ 1405-1408/9) is one of the most richly decorated codices to survive from the Middle Ages and the only manuscript whose miniatures were produced entirely by the famous Limbourg brothers. This Book of Hours, commissioned by the royal patron, is owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was originally one of the most treasured pieces of the duke's enormous collection. The scenes depicting the legends of the saints, or the hours of the virgins, all attest to the incredible talent of the Limbourg brothers.

Jean de France, duc de Berry (son, brother and uncle of three successive French kings) commissioned the Belles Heures to add to his collection of luxurious manuscripts and goldsmiths' work. Jean de France chose the Limbourg brothers to produce the Book of Hours, thus giving the two young boys (who were still only teenagers at the time) a very rare opportunity to show their talent.

In this volume the Limbourg brothers produced the components of the Book of Hours, including the Gospel readings and the supplications of the Virgin. However, the Belles Heures was raised to a completely new level when it received seven other illustrated-book entries. Through these pages they refined their palette, experimented with light and surface values, and developed their cohesive rules of composition, which helped in creating dramatic images. These illustrations are sacred-secular pieces that depict the life and ministry of Christ, as well as the problems of the people living at the time, such as the victims of the plague.

The book can be viewed online or downloaded here: metmuseum.org