experience the flemish masters

EXPERIENCE
THE FLEMISH
MASTERS
PROGRAMME
2018 - 2020
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INTRODUCTION
For over 250 years, from the 15th to well
into the late 17th century, Flanders was
the fountainhead of the finest art in
Western Europe and the inspiration behind the most famous art movements
of the time: Primitive, Renaissance and
Baroque.
The artists, renowned for their skill,
creativity and technical innovation,
turned an already rich and urban
Flanders into one of the world’s most
culturally sophisticated regions, with
impressive achievements in both art and
architecture.
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THE FLEMISH MASTERS 2018-2020
The Flemish Masters project focuses on the life and legacy of several 15th,
16th and 17th century artists who were based in Flanders, particularly
Rubens, Bruegel and the Flemish Primitives, including Van Eyck.
While many of the works by these Flemish Masters can be admired all over the
world, the experience is most powerful in the unique setting of Flanders, where
the work was created. You can stroll around the historic setting in which Rubens
lived, wander through the landscapes that inspired Pieter Bruegel the elder, and
discover a painting by Van Eyck in the exact location it was painted for.
Significant infrastructure investments are being made throughout Flanders as we
realize how important high-quality tourist services are in delivering an optimal
visitor experience. Futhermore, a programme of high-quality events and permanent exhibitions with international appeal will be organized throughout 2018,
2019 and 2020.
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ANTWERP
BRUGES
GHENT
MECHELEN
BRUSSELS
LEUVEN
The restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece and its return to St Bavo’s Cathedral, the re-opening of the Royal Museum
of Fine Arts Antwerp, a true Rubens’ treasure trove, and the different events marking the 450th anniversary of
Bruegel’s death will be the highlights of the programme.
While the art from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries will be the main priority, we will also make several
crossovers to other art forms and experiences. For example, contemporary art, comic strips and gastronomy will
be featured.
Most of the Flemish art cities will be in the spotlight, though smaller towns with top pieces will also be taking part.
Our goal is to make the Flemish Masters project accessible for everyone, deliver quality over the entire holiday
value chain. We look forward to your support and partnership in this endeavour.
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FLEMISH MASTERS
PROGRAMME 2018 - 2020
2018
ANTWERP
BAROQUE CITY,
SIGNED BY RUBENS
p. 8
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2020
THE GHENT
ALTARPIECE IS
COMING HOME
p. 30
2019
EXPERIENCE THE
WORLD OF BRUEGEL
p. 20
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ANTWERP BAROQUE CITY,
SIGNED BY RUBENS
PETER PAUL RUBENS MAY MOSTLY KNOWN AS A SUCCESSFUL ARTIST, BUT HE
WAS ALSO AN ESTEEMED DIPLOMAT, POLYGLOT AND COLLECTOR.
AN AUSPICIOUS START
Rubens was born in 1577 in
Siegen (in present-day Germany), but soon moved to
Antwerp with his mother after
his father died. It was there
that he learnt to paint, taking
instruction from artists such
as Tobias Verhaecht, Adam
van Noort and Otto van
Veen. In 1600, he travelled
to Rome and Venice in Italy,
and then later to Spain. It
was clear even then that he
was no ordinary talent as he
soon received Royal commissions from both courts.
RUBENS HOUSE AND
STUDIOS
In 1608, he returned to Antwerp as the official court
painter to the Low Countries,
a title bestowed on him by
Archduke Albert of Austria
and Isabella of Spain. It was
then that he bought a house
and land on Wapper Square
and set about redesigning it.
Inspired by the architecture
of Roman Antiquity and the
Renaissance, Rubens drew
up the plans for the renovation himself, and turned an
ordinary Flemish house into
a ‘palazzo’. He extended the
home considerably and added a studio, a garden pavilion
and a semi-circular sculpture
museum with a dome, and
there was a magnificent
portico offering a beautiful
view of the courtyard garden
and the garden pavilion. The
result was magnificent. From
then on, his studio would
become a hive of activity
with many employees and
students (some of them
going on to be famous, like
Anthony van Dyck and Jacob
Jordaens), producing many
hundreds of creations and
paintings to order.
A DIPLOMATIC CAREER
A favourite of Archduchess
Isabella, Rubens became
increasingly involved in diplomatic missions on her behalf
- indeed he was the one who
finally brokered a peace deal
between Spain and England,
a move that would eventually
lead to a cessation of hostilities between the Spanish and
the Dutch, close allies of the
English. Rubens was a highly
esteemed court guest all over
Europe with many contemporaries considering him as
skilled a diplomat as he was
an artist. For he was by then
almost universally revered as
a painter without rival.
During his travels he secured
many high-profile assignments, including commissions
such as the creation of 24
paintings celebrating the life
of Maria de Medici for the Parisian Palais du Luxembourg.
A BAROQUE LEGEND
In 1630, Rubens returned
to Flanders for good and
bought Elewijt Castle outside
Brussels. There he painted his
largest commission to date,
namely 112 works to decorate
the Royal Hunting Lodge in
Madrid, the Torre de la Parada.
By 1638, these were finally
finished and sent to Spain,
but by then his health was
beginning to deteriorate, and
he died in 1640 at his home
on Antwerp’s Wapper Square.
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BAROQUE IN ANTWERP
THE CONTEMPORARY BAROQUE SPIRIT OF
ANTWERP LIVES ON
In 2018, the city of Antwerp will pay homage to its baroque cultural
heritage, and to Peter Paul Rubens, in particular. An icon of Antwerp,
the largest and most baroque of the five Flemish cities of art, Rubens
is the embodiment of baroque, and it is he who is credited with bringing this art movement to the Low Countries when returning from Italy
in the early 17th century. It was Rubens who gave Antwerp, marked by
the capitulation of 1585, a regained pride and identity that still defines
and characterizes the city today.
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The word Baroque is derived from the Portuguese word ‘barocco’ meaning, ‘irregular pearl or stone’. This is perhaps the perfect metaphor for Antwerp as it evokes something mysterious, multifaceted and difficult to pin down,
while remaining classic and amazingly contemporary at the same time. Rubens’ house – today one of the city’s
major museums – is a baroque classic, and there are also many stylish churches in the city from this era. Fortunately, the tradition continues and new and eccentric, baroque-like buildings are being added to Antwerp’s skyline
all the time, including Richard Rogers’ Court House and Zaha Hadid’s new Port House, while some of our great
contemporary artists based in Antwerp continue to be inspired by Rubens’ baroque tradition.
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I’M JUST A
SIMPLE MAN
STANDING
ALONE WITH MY
OLD BRUSHES,
ASKING
GOD FOR
INSPIRATION.
PETER PAUL RUBENS
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ANTWERP BAROQUE CITY 2018,
signed by Rubens
The city of Antwerp has ambitious plans to celebrate its impressive baroque heritage and
Rubens in particular, and a citywide cultural project is being organized under the name ABC
2018 (Antwerp Baroque City, signed by Rubens).
Curator Teju Cole, art historian and award winning
writer, will link the past with the present through arts
and artists, and emphasizes that Antwerp and Rubens
are still impressively fascinating when it comes to
imagination and splendour.
Food, fashion and shopping, glamour and glitter and a plethora of cultural and artistic initiatives
are being prepared to ensure that you can enjoy the city and its baroque heritage every day of
the year.
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EVENTS PROGRAMME
ANTWERP BAROQUE CITY 2018, signed by Rubens
EXHIBITIONS
• MAS MUSEUM: Starting from the
work of Peter Paul Rubens and
other Flemish baroque masters,
curator Bert Watteeuw will
illustrate how three areas of life
- ‘public’, ‘private’ and ‘secret’ influenced the Baroque period
and still play a decisive role
today.
www.mas.be
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• THE RUBENS HOUSE: The Rubens
House, the ‘palazzo’ where the
Flemish master and his family
lived, will host an exposition of
small-scale and intimate baroque
works designed by Rubens, and
brought to Antwerp from collections all over the world.
www.rubenshuis.be
• MoMu: Antwerp’s fashion museum
will curate an exhibition in sever-
al historical locations around old
town Antwerp.
www.momu.be
• M HKA: The Antwerp-based
artist Luc Tuymans will contrast
works from historical baroque
and contemporary masters at
The Museum of Contemporary
Art, Antwerp.
www.muhka.be
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1 \ GROENPLAATS 2 \ RUBENSHUIS 3 \ TEJU COLE 4 \ LUC TUYMANS 5 \ M HKA
6 \ MAS MUSEUM 7 \ CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY 8 \ MOMU
FESTIVITIES
•MIDDELHEIMMUSEUM: The open-air
sculpture park of Middelheim will
host an exhibition on so-called
‘follies’. Contemporary baroque
sculptures will be inspired by the
extravagant garden decorations of
several centuries ago.
www.middelheimmuseum.be
• Teju Cole provides the artistic
inspiration for a juxtaposition of
contemporary art and work by
Rubens in the Cathedral of Our
Lady, Carolus Borromeus church
and a fully restored Saint James’
church.
• The Royal Ballet Flanders and
Opera are working on baroque
performances with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Aviel Cahn.
• Walter Van Beirendonck and
Linder Sterling will create a Baroque parade, in the full tradition
of those Triumphal Entries of the
Baroque age.
• ARTISTS’ STUDIOS/GALLERIES:
the studios of contemporary
‘baroque artists’ Jan Fabre and
Annemie Van Kerckhoven will be
open to the public.
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PERMANENT RUBENS &
BAROQUE OFFER
ANYONE WHO SAYS ANTWERP, THINKS RUBENS
In no other city in the world will you find as many tangible reminders of
Rubens as in Antwerp, for he spent most of his life living and working there.
It was where he received his training, where he experienced family joys and
sorrows, and where he welcomed princes and dignitaries as a diplomat for
the Low Countries. It was also the place where he did his painting, becoming
by popular acclaim, the greatest painter of his era. His presence is still keenly
felt in the city. His statue welcomes visitors to the Groenplaats and more than
fifty of his works are on display in various museums and churches, often in the
setting for which they were created. His home, studio and grave are all located
in Antwerp.
TEMPORARY RUBENS EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS
Cannot wait until 2018? Visit the current long-term Rubens exhibitions and
events today and in the years to come.
• RUBENS MARKET
MARKET SQUARE | 15.08 EVERY YEAR
Peter Paul Rubens is remembered at the Rubens market festival, which
takes place each year on August 15th, around the Grote Markt.
• THE GOLDEN CABINET
ROCKOX HOUSE | OPEN UNTIL 02.07.2017
Visitors to the Rockox House in Antwerp will be able to see how an Antwerp
art collection must have appeared in the Golden Century. More particularly,
the residence of former mayor and patron Nicolaas Rockox (1560-1640) is
being transformed into a luxurious art cabinet with top items from the Royal
Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (currently closed for renovation) and the most
important works from the Rockox House itself. On display will be a range of
fine paintings by such masters as Rogier Van der Weyden, Hans Memling, Jan
Van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens and Antoon Van Dyck.
•REUNION
CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY | UNTIL END OF 2017
Eight altarpieces from the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp are the showstoppers of the exhibition Reunion. From Quinten Metsijs
to Peter Paul Rubens.
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RUBENS
ROYAL MUSEUM
OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP
in Antwerp
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RUBENS HOUSE
the home of the artist for many years.
You can visit his studio and see his
impressive art collection.
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currently closed for renovation, it will reopen Spring 2019. It’ll be worth the wait
as it houses one of the finest Rubens
collections in Belgium.
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THE CATHEDRAL OF
OUR LADY
PLANTIN-MORETUS
MUSEUM
ONZE-LIEVE-VROUWEKATHEDRAAL
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
four masterpieces by Rubens are on
permanent display.
the house of Rubens’ good friend and
the place where many of his engravings
were printed.
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ST. JAMES’S CHURCH
ST. CHARLES BORROMEO
AND ST. PAUL’S CHURCHES
ROCKOX HOUSE
this is where the artist was laid to rest.
Rubens chose the painting for the altar:
his own “Our Lady surrounded by the
saints.”
Rubens’ talents as an ecclesiastical
baroque architect are clearly visible in
these two churches.
the former residence of the Antwerp
mayor at the time, Nicolaas Rockox,
and a friend and patron of Rubens is a
treasure trove of baroque art.
UNIQUE RUBENS’ ACTIVITIES
FOR TOUR GROUPS
ON DEMAND, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
AVAILABLE FOR TOUR GROUPS:
• Exclusive visits and opening hours
• Visits behind the scenes, including private organ concerts in
historic churches
• Creative workshops: print, engraving, book binding
• Guided (Rubens) walks through the city
YOU CAN BOOK BY CALLING VISIT ANTWERP OR
SENDING AN E-MAIL:
VISIT ANTWERP
+32 3 338 81 81
guides@visitantwerpen.be
WWW.VISITANTWERPEN.BE
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EXPERIENCE THE
WORLD OF BRUEGEL
THE ENIGMA OF PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER
While little is known about
the life of Pieter Bruegel,
much can be said by studying
the subject matter of his
paintings and examining
the times he lived in. Clearly
fascinated by nature, humanity and humour, he doesn’t
quite fit the mould of one or
another ‘type’ of artist. The
truth is though we know
very little about his life with
certainty, and this makes him
a truly enigmatic figure.
Two early sources1 suggest
that Bruegel was most likely
born between the years of
1525 to 1530. It is recorded
that he became a free master
in the Guild of St Luke, Antwerp in 1551. This leads us to
conclude that he most served
his apprentice to the master
craftsman (reknowned designer of tapestries, architect,
sculptor) Pieter Coecke van
Aelst between 1545 and 1550.
It was also during his apprenticeship that he may have
been trained as a manuscript
illuminator by Coecke’s wife,
Mayken Verhulst.
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1
Lodovico Guicciardini’s account of the Low Countries from 1567, and Karel van Mander’s Schilder-boeck of 1604.
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THE GUILD OF SAINT
LUKE
AN ARTIST BY
TRADE
Membership of the Guild of
Saint Luke in Antwerp, will have
certainly exposed Bruegel to the
influence of the local Romanists
for whom travel to Italy and
appreciation of classical and
humanist culture were essential. And so it is no surprise to
find that he travelled to Italy
around 1552. He is known to
have met the miniaturist Giulio
Clovio while in Rome, for three
paintings by him were listed
in the latter’s will of 1578, but
they have not survived. Around
1554 Bruegel returned to Antwerp, probably by way of the
Alps. This journey resulted in a
number of exquisite drawings
of mountain landscapes. These
sketches, which formed the basis
for many of his later paintings,
are not records of actual places
but “composites” made in order
to investigate the organic life of
forms in nature.
From the mid 16th century onwards, Bruegel began to be more
professionally active. By 1552, he
had established his first contacts
with the print publisher Hieronymus Cock and it is from this
epoch that we have his earliest
surviving drawings. These drawings can still be seen today: the
collection of Bruegel’s graphic
production which is kept by the
Royal Library of Belgium, ranks
among the richest world-wide.
It is also home to a collection of
about 90 rare high-quality prints
as well as three master drawings
by Bruegel himself.
Back from Italy however, Bruegel
begins to concentrate on painting. About forty five oeuvres
survive. These paintings are
scattered worldwide, but 5 of
them can be seen in the Royal
Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, while the iconic painting
‘The Dulle Griet’ (Mad Meg) can
be viewed in the Mayer van
den Bergh Museum in Antwerp.
This museum also owns the 12
hand-painted wooden plates
by Bruegel, each depicting a
proverb.
FAMILY LIFE IN
BRUSSELS
In 1563, Bruegel moves to Brussels and marries Mayken Coecke,
daughter of Pieter Coecke and
Mayken Verhulst in Brussels’
Notre-Dame de la Chapelle
Church. His son Pieter Bruegel
(the Younger) is born in 1564
while Jan Breugel (the Elder)
arrives in 1568. This is also the
year that Breugel produces his
last (known surviving) paintings
and drawings. Bruegel dies in
1569 and is buried in the same
church in which he married, the
Notre-Dame de la Chapelle, near
the Sablon in Brussels.
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EXPERIENCE BRUEGEL AND HIS LEGACY ALL
OVER FLANDERS AND BRUSSELS
ANTWERP
EXHIBITION ‘DE EEUW VAN BRUEGEL,
KUNST IN ANTWERPEN EN DE ZUIDELIJKE
NEDERLANDEN 1530 -1600’. (ROYAL MUSEUM
OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP)
This exhibition is a double celebration. Not only will
this be the first exhibition in the completely refurbished Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Antwerp, it will
also mark the 450th anniversary of the death of the
Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel.
Besides giving an overview of the artistic production in Antwerp and southern Netherlands from 1530
to 1585, it will focus on the work of Pieter Bruegel
himself.
www.kmska.be
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MUSEUM MAYER VAN DEN BERGH DISPLAYS
WORK BY PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER IN A
PERMANENT EXHIBITION
‘Mad Meg’ (Dulle Griet) is one of Bruegel’s most
famous paintings, and in contrast to many other
of his works, no printed copies of it exist. It is an
‘apocalyptic’ and ‘volcanic’ narrative painting and
rather like its author, has kept its secrets well locked
up for precisely what it means remains a mystery. It
is full of misshapen monsters and a woman girded
in armour strides forth with a sword in her hands:
this is Mad Meg, a synonym in Bruegel’s time for a
hellcat.
Also at this museum you’ll find the famous series
Bruegel made of proverbs painted on twelve oak
dining plates.
www.museummayervandenbergh.be
BRUSSELS
ROYAL MUSEUMS OF FINE ARTS IN
BRUSSELS (RMFAB)
EXPERIENCE THE BRUEGEL BOX AT THE
ROYAL MUSEUMS OF FINE ARTS BRUSSELS
Only about forty-five of Pieter Bruegel’s paintings
have been preserved, making them rare and extremely valuable. The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium house the second largest ensemble of Bruegel
the Elder paintings.
Using ‘The Fall of the Rebel Angels’ by Bruegel the
Elder, the Bruegel Box is a highly immersive technology, which allows the viewer to truly enter Bruegel’s
imagination and discover his original view on a
world in transformation. This imaginary representation, influenced by the cabinet of curiosities and the
discovery of the New World, is brought to life. Thanks
to a unique multimedia installation, the visitor is
launched into the heart of the untold, effervescent
chaos of the masterpiece.
Several major works are on permanent display: Fall of
the Rebel Angels (1562), the Winter Landscape with a
Bird Trap (1565), and the Census at Bethlehem (1566),
as well as one preparatory drawing for Prudence
(1558).
The Google Cultural Institute (Google Art project) has
also made a giga-pixel reproduction of the artwork.
www.fine-arts-museum.be
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THE WORLD OF BRUEGEL IN BLACK AND WHITE AT
THE ROYAL LIBRARY OF BELGIUM, BRUSSELS
The most complete graphic
collection of work by Bruegel
is housed at the Royal Library of Belgium. In addition
to Bruegel’s printed oeuvre,
several rare master drawings
by the artist himself will be
available for viewing during
this exceptional exhibition.
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The exhibition will offer a
whole new perspective on the
world of Bruegel by displaying
the artist’s work alongside
that of his contemporaries like
Bosch, Van der Heyden, van
Doetecum and others.
You will be digitally immersed
into the black and white
world of Bruegel. It’s a chance
to learn who commissioned
these different prints; how
they were perceived, and what
their fate has been during
their 450-year existence.
EXPERIENCE BRUEGEL IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE IN THE ‘PAJOTTENLAND’
GAASBEEK CASTLE
Gaasbeek Castle lies about 13 km south west of Brussels and is a beautiful medieval castle, surrounded by
gently rolling hills and water. It’s where you’ll find two exhibitions on Bruegel:
• THE REDISCOVERY OF BRUEGEL:
this exhibition in Spring 2019 celebrates a generation of 19th century artists who were fascinated by
the genius of the artist who contributed so much
to establishing the Flemish identity. Visitors will be
immersed in a game of changing moods, not only
with paintings but also music, literature and film.
It’s a unique way of discovering Bruegel’s cynical
humour, his caricatures and hidden messages, and
the way he glorified agriculture and the rural life.
• BRUEGEL MEETS CONTEMPORARY ART:
in the autumn of 2019 (September - early November), a group of contemporary artists will be interpreting the artistic legacy of Bruegel with existing
and newly commissioned work. It’s an occasion for
the biggest names in modern art to prove that the
illusion-less art of Bruegel is as topical today as it
was then.
www.kasteelvangaasbeek.be/en
CYCLING TOUR IN THE PAJOTTENLAND
A special Bruegel cycle route has been prepared taking you past Gaasbeek Castle and St-Anna-Pede church, as
well as the lush green landscape that Bruegel depicted in his paintings. The start of the route is only a short
metro ride away from Brussels city centre. Bicycles are available for hire: Villo.be, Erasmus Hospital bike station.
en.villo.be
THE CHURCH OF ST-ANNA-PEDE
A beautiful 13th century church depicted on the painting ‘The Blind Leading the Blind’.
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DID YOU
KNOW?
Did you know that
Bruegel depicts curling
and ice hockey in the
painting ‘Hunters in
the Snow’?
Did you know that
both Pieter Bruegel’s
sons became famous
painters in their own
right?
Do you know why
fools are so often
depicted by Bruegel
and Bosch as
appearing in hollowed
out eggs? The answer
is that “in Middle
Dutch, door means
both egg yolk and
fool.”
REGIONS
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BRUEGEL EXHIBITION IN BOKRIJK:
‘THE WORLD OF BRUEGEL’
OTHER
(FOR AVID ART LOVERS) 
Bokrijk is a unique open-air museum with its own
park and walking area. It is located just 60 minutes
east of Brussels by car. While you can always ‘see’ a
Bruegel in either Antwerp or Brussels, this is a chance
to ‘live’ it.
• In cooperation with the Kunsthistorisches Museum
of Wien, the Flemish Art Collection is developing
a website covering the entire oeuvre of Bruegel
with the Rubenianum responsible for the scientific
documentation.
‘The World of Bruegel’ brings Breugel’s painting to life
in a fully immersive experience. You will find farmsteads,
objects, even landscapes from the time of Bruegel. At various strategic points along the Bruegel route, visitors
will be invited to enter 4 different worlds housed
in impressive barns and fine examples of historic
craftsmanship themselves. Ideal for families wanting
an unforgettable day out.
• The ‘Bruegel’ Youth Hostel in Brussels will be
entirely refurbished on the theme of Bruegel and
his paintings. It is ideally located a few steps away
from Central Station, in the shadow of the Notre-Dame
de la Chapelle, where Bruegel was buried.
ACTUAL
PERMANENT
BRUEGEL PRODUCTS
1
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\ 1 The Bruegel walk in
Neerpede
4
\ 2 3 paintings and 1 drawing
in the Royal Museums of
Fine Arts Brussels
\ 3 2 works in the Mayer van
den Bergh Museum
\ 4 Notre-Dame de la Chapelle
Church, Brussels (where he
married and was buried)
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BOOK REVIEW
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BRUEGEL:
NEW INSIGHTS ON
A MASTERPIECE
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Fall of the Rebel Angels is the first comprehensive
book on one of the most cherished masterpieces of the Royal Museums of
Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels.
Books about a single artwork
are relatively rare, but this
book not only explains the
meaning of the work, but
also gives considerable detail
about the life and times of
one of Flanders’ most original
Renaissance artists.
The author argues that with
his Fall of the Rebel Angels
(1562), Pieter Bruegel turned a
traditional devotional theme
into an innovative commentary on his own time. More
particularly, the book reveals
some long-kept secrets about
the painting. It explains that
the hybrid falling angels are
carefully composed of naturalia (things made by nature)
and artificialia, (things made
by man) as they were collected in art and curiosity
cabinets of the time.
This places Bruegel in the
centre of the emerging global
knowledge society. Living in
Antwerp at the time of the
creation of this painting,
Breugel will have had an
expanded worldly consciousness, for it was a major seaport and will have been the
arrival point for many exotic
animals and artefacts from
the ‘new world’. By zooming
in on the events of the year
1562, the author offers fascinating insights on Bruegel
and his move to Brussels, the
city, the court, the chambers
of rhetoric and the Brussels
tapestry industry.
This book shows how studying a masterpiece can offer
real insights into the master’s
life, place and time, 450 years
after he painted his last work.
PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER, FALL OF THE REBEL ANGELS
AUTHOR: Tine L. Meganck PUBLISHER: Silvana Editoriale | Cahier n° 16 of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Available at the Museum Shop and in the Visit Flanders Shop: www.flandersshop.be
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2020
THE GHENT ALTARPIECE
IS COMING HOME
A TURNING POINT IN ART HISTORY
The paintings made in the Southern Low Countries during the 15th and early 16th centuries are
a particular high point in the history of art. The period, generally referred to as the “Flemish
Primitives”, flourished thanks to the penetrating nature of oil paint and a desire to reproduce
the visible world as detailed as possible. It was a time when commissions not only came from
the various courts and religious institutions, but also from cities and their citizenry. For the first
time, the painter enjoyed a prominent position in society.
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UNMATCHED VIRTUOSITY
WITH THE PAINTBRUSH
Jan Van Eyck was a major figure
in the painting revolution taking
place in the Low Countries during
the early part of the 15th century. With his precise observation
and natural rendering of reality,
his brilliant use of colours and
mastery of oils – a technique he
perfected - Van Eyck took painting to new heights. His employer,
the Duke of Burgundy (Philip the
Good), ensured that he was well
paid and able to paint “whenever
he pleased”. He was also asked to
handle a number of diplomatic visits, including one to Lisbon in 1428
to arrange the Duke’s forthcoming
marriage with Isabella of Portugal.
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A COVETED MASTERPIECE
Jan’s most famous creation is
the Ghent Altarpiece “Adoration
of the Mystic Lamb”, made for
Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent.
It is a 12-panel polyptych that he
worked on with his older brother
Hubert, also a painter. Jan finished
the commission in 1432 following
Hubert’s death in 1426. It was the
most famous oil painting of the
epoch.
Since its first viewing in 1432, the
magnificent altarpiece measuring
4.40 x 3.40 m is considered one of
the world’s finest art treasures. Unfortunately it has been the victim
of 13 crimes and 7 thefts since its
installation. The latest theft oc-
curred on the 11th April 1934 when
two panels from the work were
stolen, one of ‘John the Baptist’
and another of the ‘Just Judges’. A
ransom of a million Belgian Francs
was demanded, and in a show
of good faith by the perpetrator,
one of the panels, that of ‘John
the Baptist’, was returned, but no
money was ever paid. So sadly the
last piece of the puzzle is still missing. One of the themed bypaths in
STAM, the Ghent city museum, tells
the story of the theft of one of the
side panels of the Ghent Altarpiece, ‘The Just Judges’ panel. The
hunt for the missing panel is still
on and introduces a light-hearted
note.
STORY
THE RESTORATION
OF THE GHENT ALTARPIECE
“For more than four hundred years, we haven’t actually been
viewing the real Ghent Altarpiece.”
Commissioned by the merchant,
financier and politician, Jodocus
Vijd, then the equivalent of the
mayor of Ghent, the Ghent Altarpiece was designed for the Vijd
chapel in today’s Saint Bavo Cathedral. It’s a work of art that has
spoken to the imagination ever
since its creation in 1432.
THE LATEST RESTORATION
Since October 2012, Bart Devolder
has coordinated the restoration
project at the KIK (Royal Institute
for Cultural Heritage), a Belgian
institution whose expertise is
world-renowned. “We discovered
that large parts of the work were
painted over during a 17th century
restoration. That was the accepted
way of restoring a painting at the
time. But the good news is that
the original layer is still in good
condition and so we can, in principle, remove the top layer,” says
Devolder. Although in the world of
restoration a conscious choice is
sometimes made to keep the traces
of time, the restorers are convinced that, in this case, it is the
right thing to do to remove the
top layer. “We have already made
small windows in certain areas of
the panels. The colours, details,
folds and depth that have been
revealed are of remarkable quality
and perfectly match the style of Van
Eyck. This also explains why experts
had previously grouped details of
this piece among some of Van Eyck’s
lesser work. Now we know that this
is because the work of the real Van
Eyck has largely been hidden under
newer layers of paint,” suggests
Devolder. Further details, such as a
spider’s web just above the heads
of Joos Vijd and Elisabeth Borluut
have also recently been revealed
during the restoration.
35
SEE THE RESTORERS AT WORK
A COMBI-TICKET FOR THE
3 RELEVANT LOCATIONS
COSTS 12 EURO.
YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO:
- The Museum of Fine Arts
in Ghent
- The Caermersklooster
- Saint Bavo’s Cathedral
36
Until 2019/2020, when it is
estimated that the restoration will be complete and
put back in its original place
on display in Saint Bavo’s
Cathedral, you can visit the
Museum of Fine Arts (MSK)
in Ghent where the Ghent
Altarpiece is being restored.
Visitors will gain an excellent insight into the restoration work. The restorers
are currently also present at
the MSK every last Wednesday of the month for a Q&A.
Visitors may also be interested to go on the Van Eyck
walking tour of 15th century
Ghent, which connects the
three important locations:
the Museum of Fine Arts,
the Caermersklooster (an
old convent) and the Saint
Bavo’s cathedral.
An exhibition on the work’s
rich history, spanning almost
six centuries, can be viewed
at Ghent’s Caermersklooster
for the duration of the
restoration period. The
exhibition is called ‘Het Lam
Gods ont(k)leed!’ (The Ghent
Altarpiece Revealed). The
exhibition will be supplemented with temporary
exhibits focusing on specific
themes, such as the origin of
the wooden panels and the
iconography of the work.
3 MAJOR MUST-SEES FOR 2019/2020
UNIQUE VAN EYCK EXHIBITION IN THE
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IN GHENT
NEW VISITOR CENTRE
IN SAINT BAVO’S CATHEDRAL
This exhibition will zoom in on the relationship
between Van Eyck’s work and the high cultural circles
in which he was active, in particular the Burgundian
court of the Duke, Philip the Good. It will create different experiences around the oeuvre of Jan Van Eyck
just before the reinstallation of the Ghent Altarpiece
in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral.
The return of the restored Ghent Altarpiece to St. Bavo’s Cathedral scheduled for 2019/2020 will coincide
with the opening of a brand new visitor centre in the
crypt of the cathedral.
The Duke was known as a collector of paintings
and many other “rarities”. With his refined taste,
he attracted the best artists and craftsmen of his
time, and this resulted in a court that was filled with
treasures and wonders. Not unjustly, historians see
a sophisticated political strategy in this quest for
artistic brilliance, with the dazzling splendour also
serving as a display of the ruler’s political influence
and military power.
www.mskgent.be
The visitor centre will address various topics including the remarkable history of the painting (including
the current restoration campaign) and the significance of the artwork itself. Besides its religious
meaning and its historical value, the visitor centre
will also explain its link with the urban society of
the 15th century and clarify some typical Christian
customs and symbols.
EVENT: THE RETURN OF THE GHENT ALTARPIECE (TO BE DEVELOPED)
37
EXPERIENCE THE FLEMISH PRIMITIVES
IN BRUGES IN THEIR NATIVE HEARTLAND
GROENINGE MUSEUM
HISTORIUM BRUGGE
The Groeninge Museum houses a world famous collection
of Flemish Primitive paintings, with masterpieces by Jan
van Eyck, Hans Memling, Hugo van der Goes, and Gerard
David. An exciting and ambitious project covering this
particular period of art is in preparation.
www.museabrugge.be
You can experience what it was like to live in Bruges during the Golden Age in the Historium. See for
yourself what medieval Bruges was really like: walk
around the harbour, take a look in the workshop of
Van Eyck and soak up the atmosphere in the streets.
Or simply smile at the delicious scents and bawdy
laughter coming from the bathhouse.
www.historium.be
SAINT JOHN’S HOSPITAL MUSEUM
Saint John’s is a former pilgrim’s hospital and church
that has been transformed into a museum. There is
art and medical objects from the history of the clinic,
plus a special section dedicated to one of Bruges’
most famous residents, the Flemish Primitive painter
Hans Memling.
www.museabrugge.be
38
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p 27: Istock / p 28-29: Luc Bohez / p 30: KMSKB / p 31: foto 1: Luc Bohez, foto 2: Tom D’Haenens,
foto 3: Mayer van den Bergh, foto 5: Istock / p 32: Portrait of a Man: The National Gallery (London) / p 33: Lam Gods, Lucasweb / p 34: Istock / p 35: Lucasweb / p 36: Lukasweb /
p 37: Visit Gent / p 38: Visit Bruges, Michel Vaerewijck,
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