Libro de horas de munich-montserrat

The Book of Hours from Munich-Montserrat – A Masterpiece of Flemish Book Painting

The magnificent Book of Hours from Munich-Montserrat was created between 1535 and 1540 in Ghent and is attributed to Simon Bening, one of the most significant book painters of the Ghent-Bruges school. It consists of 221 richly decorated folios, including full-page miniatures and elaborately decorated margins featuring floral motifs and gold initials.

Bening, known for his landscape depictions, showcases his exceptional talent in this work. Particularly, the artistic calendar cycle is regarded as one of the most significant representations of the months following the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. His miniatures combine realistic landscapes with atmospheric effects, marking him as a pioneer of landscape painting between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The manuscript has been documented in Spain since 1578. Today, the main part is preserved in the Abbey of Montserrat, while some detached folios can be found in the J. Paul Getty Library in Los Angeles and the Bavarian State Library in Munich.