Biography of the Brothers Limburg

There is little information about their biography. Babant, in the family of a sculptor, woodcar, woodcar of Arnold Van Limburg, the son of a certain John, who supposedly moved to the Netherlands from Limburg on Maas, were born in Neimegen. In total, the family had 6 children - also the brothers Rutger and Arnold and sister Greta. According to the mother, Mehtilda Maluel, they were nephews to Jean Malwell, the court artist of the Burgundian dukes.

Perhaps around - years they studied in Paris to jewelry craft. The first mention in the documents of artists from this family dates back to May 2 of the year. Erman and Jacquemen Zhilleken Maluel, students of the Paris jeweler Alebra, were sent to Gelern due to the plague epidemic that erupted in the year. When traveling through Brussels, at that time with the Duke of Geldern, they were seized and contained in imprisonment for six months, and their mother paid for the costs, as stated in the document “Very Poor Woman”.

The ransom for brothers from their own funds was introduced by the Duke of Burgundy, before whom Jean Maluel petitioned for his nephews. However, it was most likely not about the Brothers of Limburgs, but about other nephews of Jean Malwell. It is believed that this is the "moralizing Bible", which is now in the Paris National Library. At the same time, the duke forbade the brothers to work for other customers and appointed them the maintenance for four years.

The brothers were settled in the house of Jean Duran, the doctor of the Duke. Work on the Bible continued until the death of Philip Bold in the year. After his death - the court masters of Jean, the Duke of Berrian, his brother. There is no information about the activities of the brothers from for a year. However, the researcher Millard Maiss precisely by this time classifies work on the design of the "beautiful time" Metro-Museum, New York.

Judging by the document dated June 29, preserved in the archives of Neimingen, Erman and Jean Limburg, the sons of the engraving Arnold from Aachen, owned movable and immovable property in this city. Starting from the year, the Limburg brothers are often mentioned in the documents already as court masters of the Duke of Berrian. For example, on January 1, they presented as a gift to their master “The Book-Book made from a piece of wood” is the first evidence where all three brothers appear.

Since the fall of the year, Paul Limburg has been called the "valet of the gracious gentleman", and in the year - valets already Jean and Erman.

Approximately the dates of the death of the Limburg brothers are set by papers regarding their inheritance. It is known that Jean died around 9 on March, and by September-October of the same year there were no already alive fields and Erman. Presumably, all of them died from an epidemic of the plague in the same year very young. The miniatures of the calendar of the “richest clock” with their wealth of realistic observations anticipated the ways of developing the art of the Northern Renaissance.

Instead of the ornamental background, the sky, airspace, the light of the sun characteristic of Gothic painting, changing depending on the time of day and on the time of year. Real buildings are reproduced with great accuracy. The manuscript was launched by the Limburg brothers in the period between year to year. The text itself, the title letters, marginal scenery and gilding are most likely made by other magicians.

The Chasoslov was commissioned by Jean, the Duke of Berrian. Despite their small size, these miniatures are one of the most significant monuments of international Gothic. They began with a calendar, which was usually accompanied by images of works and entertainment at different times of the year and signs of the zodiac. The following was the liturgy dedicated to a certain hour, consisting of biblical readings, prayers.

The clock was decorated with miniatures and was dressed in a magnificent binding. As a rule, the watchdogs were given for marriage, the birth of the first -born and many other celebrations. The Chasoslov also contained a number of practical information on astronomy, astrology, medicine and other branches of knowledge, which made it, not only the desired gift, but also a kind of home encyclopedia.

The creation of the manuscript itself took about 80 years. The main value of the hourly is the miniatures of the calendar of the year, which depicted classes of people in different months. They are built according to the same scheme: on top, in a semicircle, the signs of the zodiac corresponding to one or another month are shown. Below are rectangular miniatures with various scenes.

The most famous image of the watchman is the cycle “Seasons” consisting of 12 miniatures with the image of months. The watchmen often contained a calendar, but the illustrations of the cycle “Seasons” turned out to be innovative from the point of view of their orientation of selected topics for image, composition, as well as artistic and technical performance. Most miniatures contained the image of the castles of the Duke of Berrian and many details, attributes and ordinary classes suitable for a certain time of the year.Each illustration depicts a hemisphere, on which the solar chariot, the signs of the zodiac and its degrees are located, as well as the number of days in the month and the letter designations of the Julian lunar calendar, the manuscript changed many owners in France, the Netherlands, Italy.

The Duke of Omalsky acquired it, who subsequently transferred it as a gift to the French state. Finished in the year. Several miniatures have been made by the Limburgs. Some miniatures at one time were attributed to the Van Eike brothers. It is possible that Limburgs performed three miniatures in it. The latter Limburgs have nothing to do. At the same time, their only completed work.

The luxurious watch of the Duke of Berrian. Brothers Limburg. Brothers Limburg: paintings by the artist.