 |
| Simon Bening Gathering Twigs ca. 1550 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Villagers going to Church ca. 1550 Getty |
The miniature landscapes above were painted on parchment by Flemish illuminator Simon Bening (c. 1483-1561). Each is about two and a half inches tall and originally appeared with a monthly Church calendar attached. The paintings by Bening below were all commissioned for the Prayer Book of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, now preserved at the Getty in Los Angeles. The Cardinal wanted an ornamented manuscript copy of a printed book from 1521 containing German prayers and meditations on the sufferings of Christ. Simon Bening obligingly turned back the clock and produced an updated medieval-style object for the Renaissance. The original size of each image below is about four by six inches.
 |
| Simon Bening Scenes from the Creation ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening The Agony in the Garden ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening The Betrayal of Christ ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening The Flight of the Apostles ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening The Arrest of Christ ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Christ before Annas ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Christ before Caiaphas ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Christ before Herod ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Christ before Pilate ca. 1525-30 Getty |
There are more than forty such miniatures in the Cardinal's prayer-book. Most are devoted to detailed narrative episodes from the life of Christ. A few at the end (as below) offer more abstract schemes for contemplation.
 |
| Simon Bening Adoration of the Tablet from the Cross ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Adoration of the Five Wounds ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening The Man of Sorrows ca. 1525-30 Getty |
 |
| Simon Bening Christ Child & Angels with the Instruments of the Passion ca. 1525-30 Getty |