In the autumn of 2012, the extremely valuable and fragile works of one of Europe’s most brilliant painters, Jan van Eyck (Maaseik? c.1390 – Bruges 1441), have came to Rotterdam from all over Europe and the United States. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is showing the paintings of this artist, long considered the father of oil painting along side other masterpieces from other artist of this period.
In 2008 Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen organised the successful exhibition ‘Early Hollanders. Paintings from the Late Middle Ages’. The successor to this exhibition goes one step further back in history and ends with Jan van Eyck (c.1390-1441). The exhibition is an art-historical voyage of discovery and will present the only images we have of Holland in the early Middle Ages. Practically all the paintings that still exist from this period will be assembled in Rotterdam. This is the first time that all these paintings have been brought together. And because of their fragile condition, it will also be most likely the last time.
Paintings
The core of the exhibition will comprise panel paintings, complemented by a small by high-quality selection of sculptures, metalwork, illuminated manuscripts and drawings. The highlight of the exhibition will be a small group of paintings by Van Eyck and artists from his circle, including the restored ‘The Three Marys at the Tomb’. This is the first and – due to the fragility of the works – probably the last time that an exhibition on this subject will be held.
Funding
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen would like to thank the following foundations, companies and private individuals, whose enthusiastic and generous support has made ‘The Road to Van Eyck’ exhibition possible: the Turing Foundation, Robeco, BankGiro Loterij, Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, SNS REAAL Fonds, VSBfonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds (thanks, in part, to the Breeman Talle Fonds), Aon Artscope, Unilever, Nedspice, Ploum Lodder Princen, Shell, Blockbusterfonds and Thalys. A campaign has been launched on the initiative of private individuals to support this exhibition, to which you are also welcome to contribute. For further information about the ‘Van Eyck Circle’, please visit www.boijmans.nl/dekring.
Catalogue
For this exhibition a catalogue was made. The Road to van Eyck exhibition catalogue presents more than 90 masterpieces of Netherlandish, French and German art from around 1400. The richly illustrated catalogue sheds light on what and who inspired the renowned painter Jan van Eyck (c. 1390 – 1441). You can order the catalogue here.
Please note: a surcharge of € 4,00 applies on the exhibition ‘The Road to Van Eyck’
L'Agenda des Médiévistes 