The fifteen galleries of this circuit offer a remarkable survey of sculpture and the decorative arts in the Low Countries from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century. One outstanding ensemble is the largest collection of wooden retables in the world. Another exceptional display is that of tapestries; these are rotated regularly, with twenty-five on view at any one time. Typical Baroque highlights include the sumptuous cabinets.
Retables
Retables are among the most remarkable works of art in the collection. They are, in effect, large, sculpture-filled boxes that were placed above church altars. Thirteen of the fifteen at the Museum are displayed in the ‘Gothic and pre-Renaissance’ galleries; they date from the 15th and 16th centuries and were produced in the great centres of Brussels, Antwerp, and Mechelen, which enjoyed worldwide renown. The exceptional altarpiece of Saint Georges from 1493, illustrating the martyrdom of St. George and bearing the signature of Jan Borman, represents the pinnacle of this art form and comes...
Retables are among the most remarkable works of art in the collection. They are, in effect, large, sculpture-filled boxes that were placed above church altars. Thirteen of the fifteen at the Museum are displayed in the ‘Gothic and pre-Renaissance’ galleries; they date from the 15th and 16th centuries and were produced in the great centres of Brussels, Antwerp, and Mechelen, which enjoyed worldwide renown. The exceptional altarpiece of Saint Georges from 1493, illustrating the martyrdom of St. George and bearing the signature of Jan Borman, represents the pinnacle of this art form and comes from the Brussels workshops of the Late Gothic. Although unpainted, it impresses through the realism of the expressions of the figures grouped around the saint.
Tapestries
For centuries, tapestries were one of the major exports of the Low Countries. The Art & History Museum holds the largest and most important collection in Belgium, totaling more than 150 pieces. Not all can be displayed at once, and proper conservation is essential; for this reason, a different selection of around forty is exhibited every two years. When a fresh series is hung, care is taken to provide the broadest possible survey of the different weaving centres, including Tournai, Brussels, Oudenaarde, and Bruges.
16th- and 17th-century silverware
Among the objects illustrating Baroque splendor, silver undoubtedly takes pride of place. A wide range of examples is displayed in a showcase overflowing with beakers, drinking bowls, and richly ornamented tableware.
Cabinets
Among the many valuable pieces of furniture in the circuit, the stars are the Antwerp cabinets. Their two doors enclose an interior divided into two rows of small drawers flanking a central section, evoking a perspective structure. They are made from costly, often exotic woods and are richly decorated with ebony, ivory, and bone, alternating with tortoiseshell inlays, gilded plating, as well as rosewood and walnut inlay work.
Contact
- Sophie Balace: s.balace@kmkg-mrah.be
- Valérie Montens: v.montens@kmkg-mrah.be
- Emile Van Binnebeke: e.vanbinnebeke@kmkg-mrah.be