EXPERIENCE THE FLEMISH MASTERS PROGRAMME 2018 - 2020 1 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 be- hind 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. 2 3 BRUGES ANTWERP GHENT MECHELEN BRUSSELS LEUVEN 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. The restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece and its return to St Bavo’s Cathedral, the re-opening of the Royal Museum While many of the works by these Flemish Masters can be admired all over the of Fine Arts Antwerp, a true Rubens’ treasure trove, and the different events marking the 450th anniversary of world, the experience is most powerful in the unique setting of Flanders, where Bruegel’s death will be the highlights of the programme. 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 While the art from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries will be the main priority, we will also make several discover a painting by Van Eyck in the exact location it was painted for. crossovers to other art forms and experiences. For example, contemporary art, comic strips and gastronomy will be featured. Significant infrastructure investments are being made throughout Flanders as we realize how important high-quality tourist services are in delivering an optimal Most of the Flemish art cities will be in the spotlight, though smaller towns with top pieces will also be taking part. visitor experience. Futhermore, a programme of high-quality events and perma- nent exhibitions with international appeal will be organized throughout 2018, Our goal is to make the Flemish Masters project accessible for everyone, deliver quality over the entire holiday 2019 and 2020. value chain. We look forward to your support and partnership in this endeavour. 4 5 FLEMISH MASTERS PROGRAMME 2018 - 2020 2020 THE GHENT ALTARPIECE IS COMING HOME p. 30 2018 ANTWERP BAROQUE CITY, SIGNED BY RUBENS 2019 p. 8 EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF BRUEGEL p. 20 6 7 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 ordinary Flemish house into Europe with many contem- a ‘palazzo’. He extended the poraries considering him as Rubens was born in 1577 in home considerably and add- skilled a diplomat as he was Siegen (in present-day Ger- ed a studio, a garden pavilion an artist. For he was by then many), but soon moved to and a semi-circular sculpture almost universally revered as Antwerp with his mother after museum with a dome, and a painter without rival. his father died. It was there there was a magnificent that he learnt to paint, taking portico offering a beautiful During his travels he secured instruction from artists such view of the courtyard garden many high-profile assign- as Tobias Verhaecht, Adam and the garden pavilion. The ments, including commissions van Noort and Otto van result was magnificent. From such as the creation of 24 Veen. In 1600, he travelled then on, his studio would paintings celebrating the life to Rome and Venice in Italy, become a hive of activity of Maria de Medici for the Pa- and then later to Spain. It with many employees and risian Palais du Luxembourg. was clear even then that he students (some of them was no ordinary talent as he going on to be famous, like A BAROQUE LEGEND soon received Royal commis- Anthony van Dyck and Jacob sions from both courts. Jordaens), producing many In 1630, Rubens returned hundreds of creations and to Flanders for good and RUBENS HOUSE AND paintings to order. bought Elewijt Castle outside STUDIOS Brussels. There he painted his A DIPLOMATIC CAREER largest commission to date, In 1608, he returned to Ant- namely 112 works to decorate werp as the official court A favourite of Archduchess the Royal Hunting Lodge in painter to the Low Countries, Isabella, Rubens became Madrid, the Torre de la Parada. a title bestowed on him by increasingly involved in diplo- By 1638, these were finally Archduke Albert of Austria matic missions on her behalf finished and sent to Spain, and Isabella of Spain. It was - indeed he was the one who but by then his health was then that he bought a house finally brokered a peace deal beginning to deteriorate, and and land on Wapper Square between Spain and England, he died in 1640 at his home and set about redesigning it. a move that would eventually on Antwerp’s Wapper Square. Inspired by the architecture lead to a cessation of hostili- of Roman Antiquity and the ties between the Spanish and Renaissance, Rubens drew the Dutch, close allies of the up the plans for the renova- English. Rubens was a highly tion himself, and turned an esteemed court guest all over 8 9 BAROQUE IN ANTWERP THE CONTEMPORARY BAROQUE SPIRIT OF ANTWERP LIVES ON In 2018, the city of Antwerp will pay homage to its baroque cultural The word Baroque is derived from the Portuguese word ‘barocco’ meaning, ‘irregular pearl or stone’. This is per- heritage, and to Peter Paul Rubens, in particular. An icon of Antwerp, haps the perfect metaphor for Antwerp as it evokes something mysterious, multifaceted and difficult to pin down, the largest and most baroque of the five Flemish cities of art, Rubens while remaining classic and amazingly contemporary at the same time. Rubens’ house – today one of the city’s is the embodiment of baroque, and it is he who is credited with bring- major museums – is a baroque classic, and there are also many stylish churches in the city from this era. Fortu- ing this art movement to the Low Countries when returning from Italy nately, the tradition continues and new and eccentric, baroque-like buildings are being added to Antwerp’s skyline in the early 17th century. It was Rubens who gave Antwerp, marked by all the time, including Richard Rogers’ Court House and Zaha Hadid’s new Port House, while some of our great the capitulation of 1585, a regained pride and identity that still defines contemporary artists based in Antwerp continue to be inspired by Rubens’ baroque tradition. and characterizes the city today. 10 11 I’M JUST A SIMPLE MAN STANDING ALONE WITH MY ANTWERP BAROQUE CITY 2018, OLD BRUSHES, 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 ASKING 2018 (Antwerp Baroque City, signed by Rubens). Curator Teju Cole, art historian and award winning GOD FOR 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 INSPIRATION. 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 PETER PAUL RUBENS the year. 1212 13 2 6 1 3 4 5 7 8 1 \ GROENPLAATS 2 \ RUBENSHUIS 3 \ TEJU COLE 4 \ LUC TUYMANS 5 \ M HKA EVENTS PROGRAMME 6 \ MAS MUSEUM 7 \ CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY 8 \ MOMU ANTWERP BAROQUE CITY 2018, signed by Rubens EXHIBITIONS FESTIVITIES • MAS MUSEUM: Starting from the • THE RUBENS HOUSE: The Rubens al historical locations around old • MIDDELHEIMMUSEUM: The open-air • Teju Cole provides the artistic • Walter Van Beirendonck and work of Peter Paul Rubens and House, the ‘palazzo’ where the town Antwerp. sculpture park of Middelheim will inspiration for a juxtaposition of Linder Sterling will create a Ba- other Flemish baroque masters, Flemish master and his family www.momu.be host an exhibition on so-called contemporary art and work by roque parade, in the full tradition curator Bert Watteeuw will lived, will host an exposition of ‘follies’. Contemporary baroque Rubens in the Cathedral of Our of those Triumphal Entries of the illustrate how three areas of life small-scale and intimate baroque • M HKA: The Antwerp-based sculptures will be inspired by the Lady, Carolus Borromeus church Baroque age. - ‘public’, ‘private’ and ‘secret’ - works designed by Rubens, and artist Luc Tuymans will contrast extravagant garden decorations of and a fully restored Saint James’ influenced the Baroque period brought to Antwerp from collec- works from historical baroque several centuries ago. church. • ARTISTS’ STUDIOS/GALLERIES: and still play a decisive role tions all over the world. and contemporary masters at www.middelheimmuseum.be the studios of contemporary today. www.rubenshuis.be The Museum of Contemporary • The Royal Ballet Flanders and ‘baroque artists’ Jan Fabre and www.mas.be Art, Antwerp. Opera are working on baroque Annemie Van Kerckhoven will be • MoMu: Antwerp’s fashion museum www.muhka.be performances with Sidi Larbi Cher- open to the public. will curate an exhibition in sever- kaoui and Aviel Cahn. 14 15 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.