around 1425 -1489 · Amiens, Valenciennes and court of Burgundy

Sumptuous miniatures, devotional panels and meticulous landscapes make Simon Marmion one of the most esteemed masters of Franco-Flemish painting.

Simon Marmion was born around 1425 in Amiens and died in Valenciennes in 1489. A painter and illuminator active in the ancient Burgundian Netherlands, he worked for court clients and for large religious establishments. His reputation is based in particular on the altarpiece of the abbey of Saint-Bertin and on luxury manuscripts commissioned by the Dukes of Burgundy. The Scenes from the Life of Saint Bertin unfold the story in architecture, landscapes and groups where every detail remains readable. The Scenes from the Life of Saint Bertin unfold the story in architectures, landscapes and groups where every detail remains readable. The Christ of Pity and the Lamentation, on the contrary, tighten the composition around the suffering body and silent emotion. Marmion also masters the tiny scale of illumination: the breviary begun for Philip the Good had hundreds of pages and numerous miniatures. It combines Nordic precision, deep space, transparent colors and precious use of gold. His figures are never isolated from their material world; fabrics, buildings, objects and horizons extend the religious meaning. Between panel and parchment, his art gives private or public devotion an exceptional narrative intensity. Between panel and parchment, his art gives private or public devotion an exceptional narrative intensity. Between panel and parchment, his art gives private or public devotion an exceptional narrative intensity. The "Simon Marmion" selection notably compares Scenes from the life of Saint Bertin and Virgin and Child. His reading favors drawing.

Marmion holds the immensity of the story in detail: an architecture, a look or a gold leaf becomes sacred memory.