Born in Ghent around 1483, Simon Bening was trained in the workshop of his father, Alexander Bening. He became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in Bruges by 1508, eventually establishing himself as one of the most sought-after illuminators in Europe during the early 16th century.

Bening is best known for his highly detailed devotional books, including Books of Hours, which utilized a sophisticated palette and precise brushwork. His work is characterized by the integration of landscape backgrounds and atmospheric perspective into the traditional format of manuscript illumination.

His legacy remains central to the study of Northern Renaissance art, with his surviving manuscripts held in major international collections. He is recognized for sustaining the Netherlandish tradition of miniature painting well into the era of the printed book.