Ambrosius Benson – Young Woman in Orison Reading Book of Hours

I came across this painting on a blog I follow (Girl with Her Head in a Book).  I think the picture is really engaging.  The artist was unknown to me.

Ambrosius Benson was an Italian painter in the early 16^th century. Benson doesn't seem to be a particularly Italian name.  He did move to what is now Belgium.

He was one of the very first artists to feature women reading in his art.

The title refers to Book of Hours – this is usually an illuminated devotional manuscript.  And Orison is an old word for Prayer.