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Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium opens The heritage of Rogier van der Weyden

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium presents The heritage of Rogier van der Weyden. Painting in Brussels 1450-1520. an exhibition on view 11.10 2013 – 25.01 2014, devoted to painting in Brussels in the period between the death of Rogier van der Weyden (1464) and the activity of Bernard van Orley (1515- 1541).

At that moment Brussels was a thriving town. The Coudenberg Palace being the favourite residence of the dukes of Burgundy. It was surrounded by the palaces of courtiers and noble families like the Nassau or the Ravenstein. They were all important patrons of the arts.

The exhibition is built on a four year research program carried out by Dr. Griet Steyaert who, as art historian has been focusing on the followers of Rogier van der Weyden. She wrote a PhD thesis on the Master of the Legend of Saint Catherine. She is also trained in technical examination and easel painting restoration. Recently she has restored the Seven Sacraments by Rogier van der Weyden.

The Royal Museums possess a core group of paintings and key-works of this period. These will be accompanied by loans from museums and some private collections worldwide. The National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne will send the “Triptych with the miracles of Christ” (1491-1495), one of the most important works of art from Brussels of this period.