Limbourg brothers facts for kids
The Limbourg brothers were three very talented Dutch painters named Herman, Paul, and Johan. They lived in the early 1400s and were famous for painting tiny, detailed pictures in books. This special kind of art is called miniature painting or book illumination.
The brothers came from the city of Nijmegen in the Netherlands. They worked in France and Burgundy, creating art in a style called International Gothic. Their most famous work is a book called the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. It is one of the best-known medieval illuminated manuscripts ever made.
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Learning from Their Uncle
Around 1398, after their father passed away, the Limbourg brothers went to live with their uncle, Jean Malouel. He was a very important painter for the French and Burgundian royal courts.
Herman and Johan learned how to be goldsmiths in Paris. In 1399, they were traveling to visit Nijmegen but were captured in Brussels because of a war. Their mother could not pay the money needed to free them. Luckily, a group of local goldsmiths started collecting money. Eventually, Philip the Bold, a powerful duke, paid for their release because of their uncle Malouel. The two brothers were set free in May 1400.
Working on a Special Bible
In February 1402, Paul and Johan signed a contract with Duke Philip the Bold. They agreed to work only for him for four years. Their job was to illuminate a special Bible.
This Bible might have been the Bible Moralisée, which is now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. Many experts believe this book was an early work by the Limbourg brothers. Sadly, Duke Philip II died in 1404 before the brothers could finish their work for him.
Painting for Duke Jean de Berry
After Duke Philip's death, Herman, Paul, and Johan began working for his brother, John, Duke of Berry, in 1405. The Duke of Berry loved collecting art, especially books. He had many beautiful things.
Their first big job for the Duke was to decorate a Book of Hours. This type of book was used for daily prayers. This book is now known as the Belles Heures du Duc de Berry. You can see it today at The Cloisters in New York City.
The brothers finished the Belles Heures in 1409, and the Duke was very happy with it. He then gave them an even bigger and more exciting project. This new book became the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Many people think it is the most amazing example of medieval book illumination. Some even say it is the most valuable book in the world! It is kept safe in the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France.
Paul, one of the brothers, became very close to the Duke. He was given a special job as a valet de chambre, which meant he was a personal helper to the Duke. The Duke also gave Paul jewelry and a large house. Paul later married a young woman named Gillette la Mercière in 1411. Their marriage did not have any children.
Their Early Deaths
In the first half of 1416, something sad happened. Duke Jean de Berry and all three Limbourg brothers died. They were all less than 30 years old. It is thought that they might have died from the plague, a serious illness.
Because of their deaths, the Très Riches Heures was left unfinished. Another artist worked on the famous calendar pictures in the 1440s. Later, in 1485, Jean Colombe finally finished the book for the House of Savoy.
The beautiful work of the Limbourg brothers was mostly hidden away for a long time. People forgot about them until the 1800s. However, their art was very important. It influenced many painters who came after them, not just those who painted miniatures. They were part of a Northern European art tradition, but they also learned from Italian artists.
See also
In Spanish: Hermanos Limbourg para niños
