Devilish temptation
The Musée Félicien Rops presents the exhibition L’Album du diable: Les tentations de Félicien Rops. Between 1878 and 1882, Félicien Rops passionately worked on a series of drawings that are now considered his masterpieces. During this period, he created an album with 114 drawings, humorously depicting his view on the love practices of his time. Parallel to this, he designed an Album du Diable illustrating the power of the femme fatale. In 1881, he announced that he had made 65 drawings for this ‘devilish’ album, which was never published. Most of these works remain unknown.
The exhibition explores various themes dear to Rops: the presence of the devil, animality, the book as an object of depravity, and skeletons.
Prince of luminism
On the birthday of Emile Claus, Museum van Deinze en de Leiestreek (mudel) is opening the prestigious exhibition Emile Claus: Prince of Luminism, which brings together dozens of masterpieces by the luminist artist. The title of the exhibition is inspired by a publication by Alice Sauton from 1946.
For four months, you can enjoy the most beautiful paintings from all periods of Claus’ oeuvre. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to admire his masterpieces and discover his contribution to luminism.
Fashionable with Ensor
During the Ensor Year 2024, the ModeMuseum Antwerp is hosting the exhibition Masquerade, Make-up & Ensor. This exhibition celebrates the artistic power of hair and make-up artists in a multimedia setting where light, color, art, fashion, and make-up converge.
Featuring works by James Ensor and contemporary artists like Cindy Sherman, Tschabalala Self, and Genieve Figgis, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the role of make-up as a means of personal expression, artistic experimentation, and freedom.
In your wildest dreams. Ensor beyond impressionism
The Ensor Year 2024 would not be complete without an exhibition at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA). In your wildest dreams. Ensor beyond impressionism gives you a complete picture of James Ensor as a pioneering artist. You will discover his masterpieces from around the world alongside those of international artists.
Ensor’s imaginative spirit takes you through his wonderful universe full of wild visions, carnival, and humor. The exhibition showcases Ensor’s artistic evolution through the major milestones in his career. He always surprises with his contrasts between the comic and the sinister, the refined and the wild, the cozy bourgeois salons and the eerie skeletons, in a world full of bitter satire. His works reflect the exciting late nineteenth century, a time of social and political upheavals, stunning technical innovations, and mass spectacles.
Night Wanderers
From 12 October 2024 to 12 January 2025, the Art Museum The Hague presents the exhibition Dirk Braeckman – Léon Spilliaert: Night Wanderers. The exhibition explores the artistic affinity between these two Belgian artists. While Spilliaert primarily worked with ink, pencil, and chalk, and Braeckman with photography, they share a fascination for the night.
We have loaned five works by Spilliaert to the Art Museum, which is organizing the first exhibition entirely focused on the dialogue between the works of Braeckman and Spilliaert. The exhibition highlights the intriguing similarities and contrasts between the two artists and offers a compelling look at nocturnal themes and their mysterious atmospheres.
Their works, dominated by black and gray, showcase a spectrum of darkness, punctuated by points of light. This nocturnal perspective transforms their immediate surroundings and impressions into ambiguous dreamlike images that raise more questions than they answer. Their artworks seem to emerge from the same emotional realm: mysterious, elusive, and undefined.
‘Les fous’ from the Middle Ages to the Romantics
From 16 October 2024 to 3 February 2025, the Louvre in Paris presents Figures of the Fool: From the Middle Ages to the Romantics, an impressive exhibition highlighting portrayals of fools. The image of the fool played a significant role in visual culture from the Middle Ages to the Romantic period but has rarely been studied from an art historical perspective. No fewer than eight artworks from our collection are on loan to the French capital, helping to tell the story of les fous. Our Fool by Frans Verbeeck was even selected as the official campaign image for the exhibition.
The exhibition features over 300 works, including sculptures, art objects (such as ivory and bronze figures), medals, illuminated manuscripts, drawings, prints, panel paintings, and tapestries. These artworks illustrate how the notion of folly inspired artistic creation between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries, both in literature and the visual arts.
Truly Wicked: The Seven Deadly Sins visualised
From 19 October 2024 to 12 January 2025, the Bonnefanten museum presents the exhibition Good & Evil: The Seven Deadly Sins in Art. This unique show offers a fascinating perspective on good and evil, both in Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s time and today. Eleven works from our collection provide an unconventional view on good and evil in sixteenth-century art.
The exhibition centers on Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s famous 1558 print series depicting the seven deadly sins—pride, sloth, gluttony, envy, anger, lust, and greed. Surrounding these prints are works by his predecessors, contemporaries, and followers, ranging from accessible consumer art to valuable collector’s pieces.
Focus Topography
The Antwerp Keizerskapel is getting a new setup! This time, it features a remarkable selection of masterpieces from The Phoebus Foundation collection, including a world map and an atlas, displayed alongside a double-sided surveyor’s circle and a reduction compass from the early 17th century.
The Atlas Minor by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius is a printed masterpiece filled with beautiful illustrations that not only depict historical borders but also showcase the beauty of cartography. At the same time, Rumold Mercator built upon and expanded the groundbreaking work of his father, Gerard Mercator. Finally, the double-sided surveyor’s circle and the reduction compass transport you back in time. Without these instruments, topography today would likely look very different!
During the exhibition, you also have the opportunity to purchase the book Groundbreakers – Remarkable Maps from the Low Countries, 1500–1900 by Anne-Rieke van Schaik, a fascinating exploration of cartography in the Low Countries. Here is a short excerpt from the book to pique your curiosity:
Gerardus Mercator owed his fame, among other things, to the cartographic projection that bears his name (ERSD p. 202). He presented his projection via a monumental world map running to no fewer than eighteen sheets, which he engraved in his workshop and published in 1569: Nova et aucta orbis terrae descriptio ad usum navigantium emendate accomodata (‘A new and improved representation of the world for accurate navigation’). Only three original copies of the map still exist.
Gerardus’s son Rumold Mercator produced a world map in 1587, commissioned by Isaac Casaubon (1559-1614) for his critical edition of Geographika by the Greek geographer and historian Strabo, which was published in Geneva in 1587. Rumold based his map on his father’s huge and famous one of 1569 but reduced it in size considerably and applied stereographic rather than cylindrical projection. This method utilises lines drawn from a point on the sphere diametrically opposite the plane of projection. While the convex shape of the earth is flattened as a result, it retains its round shape, so that the poles are not as distorted as they are in the Mercator projection. World maps of this type would be adopted in the Mercator and Mercator-Hondius atlases published between 1595 and the 1630s.
Want to know more? Discover the complete book here:
The chapel is open Saturday and Sunday, from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free.
Ostend, Ensor’s Imaginary Paradise
Ensor’s imaginary paradise depicts the unique bond between James Ensor and his hometown of Ostend. Throughout his life, he embraced the city as his artistic playground, which is reflected in his work. The many idyllic images of the sea, dunes, and polders honor the cultural coastal city. As a member of local artistic circles, he actively participated in Ostend’s cultural life and worked to preserve the city’s beauty. This special connection between the iconic Ensor and his beloved coastal city can now be admired in the Venetiaanse Gaanderijen in Ostend.
The exhibition includes no less than four works from The Phoebus Foundation, including Study of a Sleeping Man and The Spanish Musicians. Additionally, Ensor’s contemporary, Léon Spilliaert, is also featured in this exhibition. With Fairway of the Harbor with Fishing Boats, Ostend is captured in all its everyday glory.
Kunstuur Mechelen 7
Het Kunstuur regularly showcases works by Belgian artists in exhibitions at various locations throughout Belgium, where famous Flemings highlight their connection to an artist or artwork. As usual, The Phoebus Foundation contributes by lending several pieces from its collection. During the seventh edition of Kunstuur Mechelen, you can discover two works by Théo Van Rysselberghe in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Mechelen.
M&Others
Starting June 14, the Fashion Museum in Hasselt will dedicate an entire exhibition to the transformative power of motherhood through the lens of fashion. Central to this exhibition are mother figures in all their forms, from kinship and families to mentoring and other expressions of nurturing. Additionally, the exhibition explores how mothers have served as sources of inspiration for fashion designers throughout history.
In addition to this magnificent work by Lucas Cranach I, there are also two other works from The Phoebus Foundation to discover in the exhibition. M&Others runs until January 5, 2024, in the Hasselt Fashion Museum.
Erfgoedsite Ename
On July 5th, a new permanent exhibition opens at the provincial heritage site Ename, allowing you to explore the fascinating world of heritage both frontstage and backstage. Through various masterpieces, including three from The Phoebus Foundation collection, you will encounter the most captivating stories. Additionally, you can meet experts on-site who share their latest scientific insights about the exhibited artworks.
Les Liaisons Désireuses
From May 26 to October 13, 2024, you can discover the new exhibition Les Liaisons Désireuses at Kasteel d’Ursel, where the theme of eroticism and its influence on art throughout the centuries is highlighted. Ranging from subtle and sensual to explicit and provocative, a treasure of 18th- and 19th-century erotic objects and paintings from various collections, including those of The Phoebus Foundation, is displayed throughout the castle.
Flemish Masters in Situ
As part of the Flemish Masters in Situ art project, various Flemish masterpieces are displayed at the original locations for which they were designed. As a result, a rare bozzetto by Anthony Van Dyck from our collection can be viewed in the Church of Our Lady in Dendermonde. This compositional sketch illustrates The Adoration of the Shepherds, which was designed for the church’s chapel.
The bozzetto offers a glimpse into Van Dyck’s initial concept for the composition. The sketch was likely made to present his design and secure the commission. Most of the sketch is executed in grisaille, with a few color accents. Notable is the difference from the final composition, where various characters have changed in position or appearance, while other figures have remained unchanged.
In addition to the bozzetto and the final work, this summer you also have the chance to take a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of another Van Dyck masterpiece, namely Christ on the Cross, which can also be seen in the Church of Our Lady.
Kunstuur Hasselt
During the third edition of Kunstuur Hasselt, you dive into the colourful world of Roze Harmonie and Marc greets things in the morning from The Phoebus Foundation collection. Enjoy the fascinating stories behind these works, told by well-known Flemish personalities!
Opulence Distilled. Masterpieces from the oeuvre of Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Discover the enchanting world of Jan Davidsz. De Heem during the new exhibition Opulence Distilled at the Snijders&Rockoxhuis. This exhibition not only provides a unique insight into the artist’s oeuvre but also includes a stunning floral still life from The Phoebus Foundation’s collection.
In this still life, Jan Davidsz. De Heem reveals a range of subtle details, from the barely perceptible reflection of a windowpane in the glass of a vase to the clear water droplets on the table. With this meticulous attention to detail, De Heem captures an entire universe in a flower vase, allowing his paintings to depict not only the flowers themselves but life in all its nuances.
Curious for more? Discover the full story behind this artwork in Vase of Flowers with Vanitas Symbols – Jan Davidsz. De Heem (1606-1684) on the Boundary between Tradition and Innovation.
Rodin. A modern Renaissance
Musée des Beaux-Arts in Mons presents from April 13th a new exhibition dedicated to the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. This exhibition highlights Rodin’s artistic journey, with Belgium as a central point where his art flourished. His fascination with the innovations of the Renaissance is illustrated through comparisons with influential figures such as Michelangelo, Vesalius, Mabuse, and Rubens. Furthermore, Rodin’s work is placed in dialogue with contemporary artist Berlinde De Bruyckere.
During the exhibition, visitors also have the opportunity to admire The Three Holy Women by George Minne from the collection of The Phoebus Foundation, as Minne was strongly influenced by the French master during the early years of his career. Through this work and many others, Rodin: A Modern Renaissance offers a unique opportunity to explore the artistic evolution and influence of Auguste Rodin!
Constant Permeke against the light
Step into the world of Constant Permeke during Constant Permeke against the light. With approximately 30 remarkable artworks, this exhibition in the renovated Permeke Museum offers a fresh perspective on Permeke’s versatile oeuvre. By intertwining raw emotion with everyday reality, he skillfully portrayed the most delicate moments of human nature, constantly pushing the boundaries of his art.
During this exhibition, you can also discover a work by Gust. De Smet from The Phoebus Foundation collection. Sailors in Ostend marks a turning point in De Smet’s artistic style in the late twenties. With a mixture of dark and airy colours, he takes the viewer back to the time when he, together with Constant Permeke, captured life in the port of Ostend.
Bruegel to Rubens. Great Flemish Drawings
Explore over 100 exceptional Flemish drawings from the 16th and 17th centuries during Bruegel to Rubens. Great Flemish Drawings at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology. From Pieter Bruegel’s intricate print designs to Rubens’s sketches, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the artistic genius of Flemish masters, whilst providing valuable insights into their creative processes.
Notably, the exhibition features no less than four works from The Phoebus Foundation collection, including Peter Paul Rubens’ Study of the Legs of a Male Nude and Pieter Bruegel I’s enchanting Village with a Group of Trees and a Mule.
James Ensor: Self-Portraits
The new exhibition at the Ensor House focuses on self-portraits and showcases a variety of works that delve deeper into James Ensor’s fascination with self-representation. The self-portrait takes a central role within Ensor’s oeuvre and highlights his introspective exploration. By using mirrors, Ensor created what can be described as a “subjective” representation, where the painter becomes both the subject and the object of his own creation. This intricate interplay between artist, mirror, and viewer underscores the complexity of self-portraiture.
During the exhibition, you can also discover a self-portrait of Ensor and his close friend Augusta Boogaerts from The Phoebus Foundation collection.
Hof van Busleyden
In the spring of 2024, Museum Hof van Busleyden will reopen its doors with a staggering transformation. Within the renewed permanent exhibition, you immerse yourself in the splendour of the Burgundian era, encountering celebrities from Mechelen such as Hiëronymus van Busleyden, Margaret of Austria, and Charles V. The exhibition unveils a carefully curated selection of masterpieces from the Northern Renaissance, challenging historical narratives by exploring themes such as nation-building, humanism, religion, globalization, gender, and power. Additionally, the museum seamlessly integrates multiple works from The Phoebus Foundation collection into this permanent exhibition, including various portraits by Bernard Van Orley and Jan Cornelisz. Vermeyen.
James Ensor. Maestro
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the passing of the celebrated Belgian artist James Ensor, Bozar pays homage to this versatile master with the exhibition James Ensor: Maestro. Explore all aspects of his oeuvre through approximately 100 pieces, including oil paintings, works on paper, prints, manuscripts, photos, and scores. At the exhibition, you will have the opportunity to admire three artworks from The Phoebus Foundation’s collection.
Turning Heads: Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer
Experience a fascinating journey into the world of ‘tronies’. The exhibition, previously showcased at the KMSKA, is now travelling to The National Gallery of Ireland, shedding light on the emergence of a new genre, namely head studies. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, artists such as Rubens, Rembrandt, and Vermeer delved into the art of portraying faces individually and in all their glory.
From February 24th to May 26th, 2024, you can explore the origins and evolution of ‘tronies’ through various works, including three from The Phoebus Foundation collection.
Knights of the Golden Fleece: a Brilliant Myth Unravelled
Knights of the Golden Fleece: a Brilliant Myth Unravelled reveals the political intrigues and conspiracies within one of the earliest European political alliances, considered by some as the precursor to the European Union. The exhibition features a unique collection of 15th-century coats of arms and various works, including two from The Phoebus Foundation collection.
T.rex «TRINITY»
The Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, also known as Trinity, will be exhibited in the Swiss Sauriermuseum from January 23, 2024, until January 19, 2025. For Trinity, this is also her debut as a museum piece. Almost 12 metres long and around 4 metres at the shoulder, she will be the undisputed queen of dinosaurs at the Sauriermuseum for a year.
When Trinity was acquired from Swiss auction house Koller on April 18, 2023, it was immediately clear that the dinosaur fossil fit perfectly into The Phoebus Foundation’s vision. Scientific research and sharing the results of that research with the widest possible audience are always among the foundation’s most important aims. While Trinity is in Aathal, she will be extensively studied under the supervision of leading palaeontologist Dr Nizar Ibrahim (University of Portsmouth, UK).
Trinity owes her name to the fact that she consists of the bones of 3 different T. rexes. They were discovered between 2008 and 2013 in the Hell-Creek and Lance-Creek formations in Montana and Wyoming and are all of similar size, quality, and geological origin. The preparation of the entire skeleton took almost 10 years. In total, Trinity consists of 293 original bones, accounting for 50.17% of the total. Compared to other fossils, this is an exceptionally high percentage. Especially considering that only 32 partial skeletons have been unearthed since the discovery of the first T. rex in the 19th century, and that Trinity is a respectable 66 million years old.
Aathal will be the first stop on Trinity’s world tour: the plan is to display the T. rex skeleton in numerous other international museums. However, in 2020 The Phoebus Foundation acquired the iconic Boerentoren (‘Farmer’s Tower’), in the centre of Antwerp (Belgium). The art deco building, once Europe’s first skyscraper, is currently undergoing transformation into a ‘cultural tower’: a cultural hotspot with large-scale exhibition facilities. When construction is complete, this will be Trinity’s final destination, where everyone, young and old, can admire her in a permanent exhibition.
The Creation of Science
With the new exhibition ‘The Creation of Science,’ the Catharijneconvent museum in Utrecht explores the connections between science and religion. Through centuries-old scientific instruments, rare manuscripts, and intriguing art, visitors will discover the indispensable influence of religion on the evolution of natural sciences in Western Europe. Among the items showcased, two unique manuscripts dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries from The Phoebus Foundation offer a glimpse into the intersection of religion and science of that era.
Roelant Savery’s Wondrous World
From the 8th of February, Mauritshuis will host a new exhibition celebrating a pioneering figure of Dutch painting. This artist not only created the Netherlands’ first floral still life but also gained fame for depicting the legendary dodo. Roelant Savery’s Wondrous World invites visitors to explore the acclaimed artist’s world through over 40 paintings and drawings from both the museum’s collection and international loans.
Roelant Savery’s masterpiece titled A Cattle Market from The Phoebus Foundation collection will is also on display as part of the exhibition. Recently restored, this early work by the artist showcases Savery’s technical mastery in balancing light and colour. What makes the artwork particularly special is the combination of a bright foreground filled with livestock and a dark background suggesting an approaching storm.
Retable with the Lamentation
The retable with the Lamentation from The Phoebus Foundation’s collection will be on display at The Art Institute of Chicago for the next three years. This rare masterpiece, originating from the Southern Netherlands and produced in the 15th century, was originally intended for private worship. Of the few examples with the Lamentation as the central motif, this unique piece will finally be accessible to a wider audience after a long time. A unique opportunity to learn about the artistic and devotional traditions of the period!
Dirck van Delen, a Zeeland Master of the Golden Age
Stadhuismuseum Zierikzee regularly organises exhibitions under the title Zeeland Masters of the Golden Age. Each year is devoted to a specific theme, subject or oeuvre of a particular artist. During the upcoming exhibition, the Flemish master Dirck van Delen will be put in the spotlight. Visitors will then also have the opportunity to admire a work from The Phoebus Foundation collection, namely Deathbed Portrait of Pieter van Delen. The exhibition will run from the 15th of January to the 15th of November 2024.
For those who want to discover more about this unique work, Extraordinary Death Portrait by Dirck van Delen can be read on our website. In this Phoebus Finding article, Dr Leen Kelchtermans examines the portrait based on the inscription at the top right in order to find out who the person portrayed was and how the portrait was created. Take a look at the article and discover more about the fascinating story behind this work of art!
Le sport, tout un art !
Charleroi’s Museum of Fine Arts presents a new exhibition that explores the dynamic synergy between sport and art. With sport as a universal challenge and source of inspiration for various artists throughout history, it forms the outset of the exhibition. Moreover, the showcase offers the opportunity to admire Théo Van Rysselberghe’s iconic tennis match from The Phoebus Foundation collection.
The exhibition will run from the 25th of November 2023 until the 21st of April 2024 at Musée des Beaux-Arts in Charleroi.
From scribble to cartoon: Drawings from Bruegel to Rubens
From the 17th of November, the Plantin-Moretus Museum will display 85 astonishing drawings by old masters from various Flemish collections. From scribble to cartoon: Drawings from Bruegel to Rubens offers a fascinating and comprehensive look at the art of drawing in the 16th and 17th centuries.
This exhibition not only presents a captivating array of drawings but also offers a deeper exploration of the ‘who,’ ‘why,’ and ‘how’ of drawing during this fascinating period. Visitors are encouraged to delve into the motivations behind each creation, and the artist’s meticulous selection of materials, techniques, formats, and even dimensions. It’s an opportunity to gain a framework for understanding these drawings within their original functional context. Last but not least, don’t miss the chance to discover four remarkable works from The Phoebus Foundation collection!
DIERIC BOUTS. Creator of images
M Leuven will present a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to Dieric Bouts starting this autumn. Bouts was a Flemish 15th-century painter from Haarlem who settled in Leuven, where he found his creative haven and gained recognition for his various masterpieces. The emotional depth, attention to detail, and masterful use of light and shadow defined Bouts’ enduring legacy.
Furthermore, the exhibition thoroughly revisits these five-century-old masterpieces by confronting them with contemporary visual culture, allowing for new perspectives of looking at art and image-makers.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Albrecht Bouts also contributed significantly to the art world. One of his works in our collection depicts the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Bouts’ masterful craftsmanship is a testament to his artistic prowess and ability to convey profound themes with remarkable technical skill.
Curious about the life and legacy of Dieric Bouts? Discover DIERIC BOUTS. Creator of images from the 20th of October 2023 at M Leuven. The exhibition runs until the 14th of January 2024.
Turning Heads
Experience a fascinating journey into the world of tronies with Turning Heads. The exhibition at KMSKA highlights the emergence of a new genre, namely head studies. During the 16th and 17th centuries, artists like Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer delved into the art of depicting faces individually and in all their glory.
Tronies were not meant to be traditional portraits of identifiable individuals but rather served as studies or exercises for artists to explore various facial expressions, emotions, and character types.
From the 20th of October 2023 till the 21st of January 2024, you can discover everything about the origins and evolution of tronies through various works at KMSKA, including three from The Phoebus Foundation collection.
Ingenious women. Women Artists and their Companions – Kunstmuseum Basel
The journey of the exhibition Ingenious Women: Women Artists and Their Companions continues to the Kunstmuseum Basel, where the remarkable careers of female artists from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century are celebrated. This exhibition sheds light on contemporary themes such as equality and the balance between work and personal life, as well as on the achievements of female artists within the context of their families and male colleagues.
During this exhibition, no less than three works from The Phoebus Foundation collection can be admired.
Do you want to discover more? Visit the Kunstmuseum Basel and get to know the most intriguing female figures in painting from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century.
Kunstuur Mechelen 6
Het Kunstuur regularly features masterpieces by Belgian artists. In a playful way, every artwork is highlighted in a unique setting through music and unique stories told by several well-known Flemish figures.
The sixth exhibition at Kunstuur Mechelen will also feature two works from The Phoebus Foundation collection, namely The Dynamic of Dance by avant-garde artist Jules Schmalzigaug and The Klappeien at Bachte-Maria-Leerne by Emile Claus.
The sixth exhibition of Het Kunstuur in Mechelen will run from the 13th of October 2023 till the 31st of April 2024. For more info and tickets, visit www.hetkunstuur.com/mechelen
Rubens at Palazzo Te. Painting, Transformation and Freedom
Peter Paul Rubens, a luminary of the Baroque era, stands as one of the most celebrated painters in the history of art, having left an indelible mark on the world of art through his masterful creations, elevating the art of painting to new heights of grandeur and emotional intensity. But how did Rubens develop a unique artistic language that combined elements of Italian Renaissance and Flemish traditions? Which influences shaped his distinctive vocabulary, blending Flemish and Italian styles seamlessly? From the 7th of October 2023, Palazzo Te in Mantua embarks on a profound exploration, delving into the intricate relationship between Giulio Romano’s oeuvre and its role as a source of inspiration for the distinguished Antwerp master.
The exhibition, structured around Palazzo Te’s layout, underscores the enduring impact of Rubens’ time in Mantua and Italy, as well as the legacy he passed on to his pupils. Selected works in the exhibition are chosen for their dialogue with the myths and interpretations found in Giulio Romano’s rooms. Moreover, there will not only be works by Rubens on display, but also by the Antwerp master Jacob Jordaens. His ceiling pieces on the love story of Amor and Psyche will be carefully installed in the exact arrangement the artist envisioned in his Antwerp residence. Within the context of Palazzo Te, these works are of particular importance because Jordaens created them, inspired by masterpieces by Rubens, who in turn was influenced by Romano.
Jacob Jordaens’ ceiling pieces from The Phoebus Foundation collection will be on display at Palazzo Te from the 7th of October 2023 to the 7th of February 2024.
Brueghel: The Family Reunion
The Brueghel family, spanning several generations of remarkable artists, has left a significant mark on the art world. This dynasty of painters, predominantly active during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in the Southern Netherlands, produced a body of work that encapsulates the essence of their time while transcending the boundaries of their era. In this manner, the Brueghels, as well as their work, remained cherished for generations.
To celebrate this enduring legacy, Het Noordbrabants Museum brought together the best works from five generations in an ambitious exhibition comprising eighty exquisite paintings and prints. Once again, an impressive display of no fewer than nine works from our collection will be showcased.
Frans Hals
In the forthcoming seasons of autumn 2023 and spring 2024, the illustrious legacy of Frans Hals will be commemorated through a series of distinguished exhibitions hosted by renowned institutions such as The National Gallery and Rijksmuseum. Notably, the Frans Hals Museum will proudly contribute to this celebration by showcasing a trio of exquisite works from our collection, that will be on view from the 18th of September.
Hals is still celebrated for his revolutionary contributions to portrait and genre painting. His style is characterised, among other things, by bold, loose brushwork, vibrant colours and the ability to capture the vitality and spirit of his subjects. This innovative approach to painting had a profound influence on future generations of artists, making him a key figure in the history of seventeenth-century art.
Baroque Influencers
From the 22nd of April, visitors to the Antwerp city festival Baroque Influencers can discover the Jesuits, Rubens and the Art of Persuasion exhibition. Get to know the most prominent names from Baroque and Jesuit history. Among a variety of artworks spread across three locations – Snijders&Rockoxhuis, St Charles Borromeo Church and Hendrik Conscience Heritage Library – there are also four masterpieces on display from The Phoebus Foundation collection, including Saint Margaret by Rubens as well as other masterpieces by Daniel Seghers and Jacob De Wit.
Discover the rich history of Antwerp’s Baroque visual culture through cultural and academic events during Baroque Influencers, and marvel at the works from our collection in Snijders&Rockoxhuis.
Hugo van der Goes. Between Pain and Bliss
On the 31st of March, the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin celebrates the Ghent-born artist Hugo van der Goes. An actual premiere as almost all of the artist’s surviving paintings and drawings will be presented in one exhibition. As one of the most important names of the second half of the 15th century, van der Goes generated much admiration with their monumental pieces displaying an astonishing and emotional expressiveness.
Once again, visitors can discover two unique pieces from The Phoebus Foundation collection: van der Goes’ Descent from the Cross and Mary with Child and Saints Thomas, John the Baptist, Jerome and Louis.
Discover Hugo van der Goes. Between Pain and Bliss from the 13th of March to the 16th of July at the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Flemish Expressionism
Discover the Belgian art of the interbellum and how the Flemish expressionists brought modern figurative painting to a peak.
From the 25 of March, visitors of Kunstmuseum Den Haag will be able to enjoy no less than 38 works from our collection showcasing the colourful yet bold character of works by Gust. De Smet, Frits Van den Berghe, Edgar Tytgat , Floris Jespers, Constant Permeke and many others.
After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art
After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art at The National Gallery in London celebrates the most renowned names of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin, as well as their influence on younger generations of artists and the broader circles of artists in Europe. Moreover, no less than two works from The Phoebus Foundation collection are on display!
Encounter the works of Théo van Rysselberghe and Henry van de Velde and discover how Impressionism radically changed the art world, becoming one of the most important periods in art history.
Portrait of an Old Woman in The National Gallery
From the 16th of March, visitors of The National Gallery in London can discover Metsys’ Portrait of an Old Woman from The Phoebus Foundation collection at the new exhibition The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance. The exposition focuses, among others, on Quinten Metsys’ portrait of the Ugly Duchess, a related drawing after Leonardo da Vinci, and other artworks portraying older women. The paintings demonstrate Metsys’ fascination with depicting the grotesque but also show how the rise of secular and satirical art during the Renaissance shaped attitudes that persist today.
Ode to Antwerp
Did you know countless Dutch masters were inspired by their southern neighbours? The influence of early modern artistic centres such as Antwerp on artists from the North cannot be underestimated. Time for an ode! With more than 80 works of art by resounding names such as Frans Hals, Maerten De Vos, Hendrick De Clerck and Peter Paul Rubens, this spring Museum Catharijneconvent highlights the important connections between the North and the South. With surprising dialogues as a result!
In the 16th century, Antwerp was the art and trade metropolis of Europe. Political and religious tensions ended all the glory in 1585. The Netherlands were split, the people of Antwerp fled and the prosperous epicentre moved towards the north. The exhibition Ode to Antwerp. The Secret of the Dutch Masters brings a unique perspective on this turbulent history and focuses on the immense influence on art and the art market that the fled Antwerpers took with them. Using large and colourful canvases and panels that are on display in the Netherlands for the first time, the exhibition highlights the enduring artistic interaction between the Southern and Northern Netherlands. Starring? More than 30 masterpieces from The Phoebus Foundation’s collection!
The Epitaph Altarpiece of Salomon Hendrickx
Discover the majestic splendour of this unique altarpiece from The Phoebus Foundation collection at the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren. From March 2023, visitors to this outstanding thirteenth-century edifice can also learn about the rich history of this sixteenth-century altarpiece.
Made of oak and with painted inner and outer wings, the altarpiece also reveals a gilded Malines house altar in the centre. The alabaster relief depicts The Flagellation, while the medallion at the top represents God, the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Find out more about this exceptional piece from March at the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren.
The Bentvueghels
The Bentvueghels. A notorious art society in Rome is a new exhibition at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht that tells the story of an artists group from the Northern and Southern Netherlands who came together in Rome at the beginning of the 17th century under the name The Bentvueghels. Among others, three works by Jan Miel from our collection will be on display there.
Jan Miel, Ceres, Bacchus and Venus, 1645
Info and tickets available on the website of Centraal Museum.
St Dymphna. The Tragedy of an Irish Princess.
Thanks to the collaboration with the National Gallery of Ireland, the unique Dymphna altarpiece from The Phoebus Foundation collection will continue its travels to the homeland of princess Dymphna, namely Ireland. The new exhibition St Dymphna. The Tragedy of an Irish Princess. explores Dymphna’s tragic life story and her canonisation as a saint. The panels by Goossen Van der Weyden are unique pieces as they are the only known pieces from the 16th century exploring the life of St Dymphna.
From the 28th of January until the 28th of May 2023, you can admire Goossen Van der Weyden’s eight panels telling the intriguing story of one of the most intriguing Merovingian female figures.
For info and tickets, visit the website of National Gallery of Ireland.
Léon Spilliaert: Avec la Mer du Nord …
From the 27th of January, the Fondation de l’Hermitage will display no less than six works from our collection as part of their new exhibition Léon Spilliaert. Avec la Mer du Nord … As the title already mentions, this retrospective focuses entirely on the Ostend-born self-taught painter and graphic artist. Moreover, the exhibition focuses on one of Spilliaert’s main subjects: the North Sea.
Spilliaert was a contemporary of James Ensor and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, he painted self-portraits as well as scenes of everyday life, which are now considered among his most important works. With his singular approach to color, Spilliaert stood out amongst his Belgian contemporaries, expressing his inner torments through visions haunted by the spectre of dread and death.
Discover more about the fascinating life and work of Léon Spilliaert at the Fondation de l’Hermitage. Info and tickets on the museum website!
Theodoor Rombouts Virtuoso of Flemish Caravaggism
We start our 2023 Travelling Treasures with a new loan that will be on display from the 21st of January at MSK Gent as part of the new exhibition titled Theodoor Rombouts, Virtuoso of Flemish Caravaggism.
Born in Antwerp during the late 16th century, Theodoor Rombouts is best known for his dynamic compositions depicting musical scenes, card-players and other merry characters enjoying their time. The work Cardplayers is exemplary of Rombouts’ style reminiscent of Caravaggio, encompassing a realistic yet spontaneous dimension.
Discover Cardplayers and other remarkable compositions by Theodoor Rombouts at MSK Gent from the 21st of January. Tickets and info available on the museum website.
Hidden Gems
We are happy to announce that three works from our collection will be part of the new exhibition ‘Hidden Gems. Seven centuries of Mechelen masterpieces’ at the Museum Hof van Busleyden.
Did you know that Frans Verbeeck and Hans Bol, both from Mechelen, made significant contributions to Flemish art history with works depicting peasant weddings? This subject was enormously popular in 15th and 16th-century. The exhibition at the Museum Hof van Busleyden will take its visitors to a timeless city where more than 100 works of art will reveal the rich history of Mechelen’s artistic landscape.
Wondering which other artwork from our collection will accompany the peasant weddings during Hidden Gems? Find out by visiting Museum Hof van Busleyden! More info available on the museum website.
SkYline. Highrise in the Low Countries
Once again, we are incredibly proud to announce that our artworks are travelling! This time, three of our works are going to STAM Ghent for the new exhibition SkYline. Highrise in the Low Countries.
The exhibition focuses on various architectural and urban aspects of the city and how they shape its skyline by concentrating on the cities of Ghent and Rotterdam. This collaboration with Museum Rotterdam will analyze how and why skylines look the way they do today, how their evolution has changed throughout time, and what challenges and developments may take place in the future.
Let yourself get carried away by this architectural tour de force at STAM Ghent. Info and tickets are available on the museum website!
Newcomers
Our Two Fisherboys by Frans Hals will be on display at the Frans Hals Museum from the 30th of September. The exhibition Newcomers takes visitors on a journey back in time when various Flemish artists, artisans, and merchants moved to Haarlem around 1600 and began influencing the art and the city. Through numerous works by Flemish masters, including Frans Hals, Karel van Mander, Pieter Claesz, and many more, as well as works by Dutch masters, we discover why these Flemish masters moved to Haarlem and what effect their work had on the arts and the city.
Find out more about Newcomers on the Frans Hals Museum website!
Marinetti and Futurism
We are incredibly proud to share this flamboyant work by the Belgian futurist Jules Schmalzigaug with Rijksmuseum Twenthe for their new exhibition Marinetti and Futurism: Manifesto for a New World. The exhibition traces the evolution of futurism alongside the work of its Italian founder, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.
Jules Schmalzigaug (1882-1917), who grew up in Antwerp and later traveled to Germany, Paris, and Italy, was the only painter from Belgium to develop a close relationship with the Italian Futurists in the prewar period. During his stay in Paris in 1912, on the occasion of an exhibition on Futurism, he attended Marinetti’s lecture at Galerie Bernheim-Jeune. This experience convinced Schmalzigaug to move to Italy, where he exhibited alongside the most famous figures of Futurism.
Find out more about the works of the futurists during the new exhibition in Rijksmuseum Twenthe!
SUSANNA
We are proud to announce that two of our works depicting Susanna and the elders will be presented in the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne for the SUSANNA – Images of a Woman from the Middle Ages to MeToo exhibition.
The exhibition will investigate the violent and sexualising pictorial tradition of Susanna throughout history alongside the MeToo movement. Masterworks by artists such as Hendrick de Clerck, Artemisia Gentileschi, Anthony van Dyck, and others will be displayed alongside contemporary artworks by Kathleen Gilje and Zoe Leonard. The exhibition offers a relevant and essential perspective on the representation of one of the most prominent female figures in history and the representation of women in general.
Find out more about SUSANNA – Images of a Woman from the Middle Ages to MeToo on the Wallraf-Richartz Museum website!
Alabaster
M Leuven has joined forces with the Louvre Museum to exhibit alabaster in all its glory. More than 130 masterpieces carved out of alabaster will be on display, exploring the materiality and immateriality of works by masters such as André Beauneveu, Jean Mone, Étienne Bobillet, and many others. Find out more about this exhibition on the M Leuven website!
We are tremendously honored to have contributed to this exceptional exhibition with no less than six alabaster loans, two of which are pleurants. Pleurants are figures who mourn the death of their duke and serve as grave ornaments. In this case, they mourn John of Berry, a prince from the house of Valois, a French dynasty that ruled during the Middle Ages. As an art lover, John of Berry wanted to make sure his tomb would be as magnificent as possible, so the pleurants became the perfect ornament to adorn his grave.
Want to know more about Jean de Berry’s pleurants? Read our Phoebus Focus XXVI Pleurants, Alabaster figures for the Tomb Monument of Jean de Berry (1340-1416), available in our web store!
Landscape with archers
Landscape with archers by Gillis Mostaert I will be on display in Mudel for two more weeks!
‘SHOOT. Archery, a cultural heritage’ is an exhibition that focuses on the historical link between Deinze and archery. Its history will be extensively illustrated through various artistic, religious, historical, and sporting aspects. Until the 25th of September, you can book tickets and discover more about this fascinating work by Mostaert and more!
Portrait of Henricus Liberti
The Antwerp artist, Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641) cherished his friendships and he did so by depicting his closest friends – other artists, merchants, collectors or musicians – in a portrait.
The painting of the Antwerp musician and composer Henricus Liberti (ca. 1610-1669) emerged during the 17th century. Liberti was active as a singer and organist at the Antwerp Cathedral for at least thirty years, but his portrait by Van Dyck has been away from his Antwerp home for a very long time. From Bear Stake Gallery to Euston Hall, the portrait has been in England for more than two and a half centuries. Eventually, it did make its way back to Antwerp through The Phoebus Foundation.
Admire the portrait until the 12th of November at Museum Vleeshuis!
Want to know more about the fascinating portrait of Henricus? Read our Phoebus Focus XXVII Portrait of Henricus Liberti, available in our online store!
Recht door zee
Last chance to visit our travelling treasure in STeM Sint-Niklaas!
We are proud that The First Atlas Map to Use the Word “America” is part of the Recht Door Zee exhibition, which focuses on navigating the world from 1500 until today. The exhibition highlights the ever-evolving knowledge of cartography, geography, and astronomy. Amongst others, manuscripts, portolan maps, handcrafted curiosities, and multiple historic naval objects are on display.
Laurent Fries, The First Atlas Map to Use the Word “America”, 1525
The First Atlas Map to Use the Word “America” ’ is an essential element as it contributed to maintaining the place name “America”. If It weren’t for French physician and mathematician, Laurent Fries (1485-1532), the name would have probably fallen out of use.
Until the 11th of September, the exhibition guides you through a time-traveling experience amongst three locations, covering almost 1200 square meters. Don’t miss it!
Symbolism in Flanders
The Noordbrabants Museum in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL) is currently the place to be for fans of art from the Latem school!
The exhibition Symbolism in Flanders focuses on the first generation of artists from the picturesque artist village of Sint-Martens-Latem. Three important artists take the stage: sculptor Georg Minne, landscape specialist Valerius De Saedeleer and Gustave Van de Woestyne, known for his finely drawn, powerful peasant heads. The artworks of these talented masters express their urge to escape the modern, busy city and return to nature, origin and inner peace.
Gustave Van de Woestyne, Farmer’s Wife, 1926
With no less than 6 loans from Gustave Van de Woestyne and Valerius De Saedeleer, we are very proud to have contributed to this exceptional exhibition!
Brueghel goes Los Angeles
Our loans literally travel around the world. You can even find our masterpieces in Los Angeles!
Since April, Flowers in a Vase with a Clump of Cyclamen and Precious Stones by master painter Jan I Brueghel (1568-1625) has been on display at the J. Paul Getty Museum as part of the museum’s permanent collection.
Daffodils, hanging pink roses, an orange lily, flaming tulips, bright blue irises, … The variety of flowers and bright colours are overwhelming and splash from this small panel.Flowers in a Vase with a Clump of Cyclamen and Precious Stones is a masterpiece by one of the most important painters of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century: Jan Brueghel I (1568-1625). Although he was also known as ‘Bloemenbrueghel’, it was only in his late thirties that he began to paint flower vases. Flowers in a Vase with a Clump of Cyclamen and Precious Stones is one of the earliest and most beautiful examples.
Curious to see this panel with your own eyes? It is waiting for you in La la land!
Anto-Carte. Heaven and Earth
Meet Anto-Carte (1886-1954)! A Mons artist who was a painter, lithographer and illustrator at the same time, he became known all over the world thanks to exhibitions in the United States, Spain and Italy.
With the exhibition Anto-Carte. Heaven and Earth, the BAM immerses you in the world of Anto-Carte, whose work weaves a fascinating link between the centuries. After all, the expertise of the great masters of painting is reflected in paintings painted in the first half of the 20th century by this internationally renowned artist from Mons.
80 works from public and private collections show Anto-Carte’s painting that focuses on the pursuit of the sacred. The artist revisited the classic themes of Christian iconography and at the same time honoured the grandeur of the peasant world in his works. You will also discover a fascinating work from the collection of The Phoebus Foundation !
Iron Men
Fans of armour will be in for a treat at Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna! In the exhibition Iron Men, you will discover the most beautiful suits of armour from the largest collections in the world. From paintings and sculptures to authentic, life-size armour: immerse yourself in a world of fashion and steel.
You will also discover an exceptional sculpture of Charles V in – literally – magnificent armour from the collection of The Phoebus Foundation.
Trans-Atlantic Modernisms, 1910-1958
Do you like modernist art? Mu.Zee in Ostend is your place to be! Moreover: you can discover Transatlantic modernisms! The exhibition tells the surprising story of the artistic connections between Belgium and Argentina from 1910 to 1958. The artists from both regions may have lived miles apart, their contacts and influences were particularly close. The friendship between artists Julio Payro and Paul Delvaux is one of the many examples of these artistic relations.
With no fewer than four loans, we are honoured to have contributed to this special project. Book your ticket now!
Keyboard Instruments
Did you know Antwerp was the capital of harpsichords between 1560 and 1660? With the exhibition Keyboard Instruments, the Snijders&Rockox House Museum and the Vleeshuis Museum take you back to the golden age of the Antwerp harpsichord.
At the Snijders&Rockox House Museum you can discover paintings by Frans Floris, Jacob Jordaens, Maerten de Vos, the Francken family and others, with Antwerp organs, harpsichords and virginals in the leading role. At the Vleeshuis Museum you can admire the harpsichords and virginals and unique painted harpsichord lids.
With no less than eight loans, including a newly discovered harpsichord lid by Frans II Francken, The Phoebus Foundation is honoured to be a partner of this special exhibition!
The Francken Dynasty
Today a name stands out from the Frankish dynasty, that of Frans Francken the Younger (1581-1642) considered to be an outstanding artist. This contemporary of Rubens is distinguished by his unique, refined style, by the diversity of subjects he tackled and by his prolific output which flooded the Antwerp market. Trained by his father Frans the Elder, a renowned religious painter, he asserted his personality and taste for learning very early on: his works include multiple references to history and literature, and even esoteric sources. His fine artworks responded to the demands of the bourgeois wishing to demonstrate their knowledge: his success was immediate. A studio was then set up, a real commercial enterprise which called on famous collaborators from time to time such as Jan Brueghel and who also employed his brothers and sons.
In Flanders, the mode of apprenticeship based on the medieval tradition of craft guilds encouraged artistic filiation. So, the Francken dynasty is a story of several generations of artists united by blood ties and a common expertise. Although Frans Francken the Elder and Ambrosius Francken I revealed their talent through spectacular religious triptychs, Hieronymus Francken I rose to the prestigious position of painter to the King of France. Each followed their own path based on the proposals received and their inclinations, while benefiting from a brand, the Francken brand.
From 04/09 to 02/01/2022, you can discover the Franckens at Musée de Flandre in Cassel (France) and admire three extraordinary works of art from The Phoebus Foundation. Click here for more info.
Imagining the Universe
Imagining the Universe is part of Leuven’s KNAL! Big Bang City Festival, which focuses on the fascination with the cosmos and its impact on science and culture. The exhibition tells the story of man’s fascination with the cosmos and how this is reflected in the visual arts and thought up until the 19th century. The visitor is taken through history and discovers the answers that were formulated in the Middle Ages and early modern times to the fundamental questions about our origins.
Imagining the Universe portrays the enduring wonder and ongoing search for insights into the origins of the universe and mankind in this immeasurable system. Selected masterpieces from national and international collections then how, across time, space and cultures, broad answers to various, fundamental questions surrounding the origin of man have been conceived, expressed, depicted, embraced and rejected. You’ll also discover two fascinating loans from our collection!
Remember Me
Remember Me. More than 100 Renaissance Portraits, from Dürer to Sofonisba tells the story of powerful emperors, flamboyant aristocrats and well-to-do citizens and how they had themselves immortalized throughout the 15th and 16th centuries. Showing various masterpieces by famous artists such as Holbein, Dürer, Memling and Titian, this unique exhibition highlights the first real blossoming of portraiture in Europe.
Besides Renaissance portraits from Turin, Frankfurt and Washington, you can admire two exceptional works by Jan Van Hemessen and Jan Van Scorel from the collection of The Phoebus Foundation!
Becoming Famous: Peter Paul Rubens
Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) is arguably the most successful Flemish Baroque painter. His works are characterized by an impressive, colorful imagery that is highly recognizable. Even during Rubens’s lifetime were people prepared to pay the highest prices for his works. But how did Rubens succeed in becoming a painter who is celebrated throughout all of Europe?
This exhibition shows how Rubens laid the foundations for his later success in Italy: he worked in Italy for the ducal court in Mantua as well as for the powerful Doge families in Genoa. Between 1600 and 1608, he continuously expanded his network and gained influential nobles, scholars and diplomats as patrons. Meanwhile, he spent his Italian years to study ancient and renaissance art in Rome and elsewhere.
One hundred paintings and works on paper tell the story of Rubens’ stay in Italy and the beginnings of his great studio in Antwerp. With the loan of Rubens’ Portrait of Emperor Servius Sulpicius Galba and the drawing A satyress Reaches for a Herm of Pan from the master’s sketchbook, The Phoebus Foundation is making an important contribution to this exhibition.