In 2023 in Berlin the first exhibition on Hugo van der Goes

The Gemäldegalerie in Berlin is planning a major exhibition in 2023 on Hugo van der Goes (Ghent, c. 1440 - Auderghem, 1482), one of the greatest Flemish painters of the 15th century (as well as one of those who exerted the strongest influence on Italian artists of the time), whose most famous work, the Portinari Triptych, is in Italy, in the Uffizi. The exhibition will be held from March 31 to July 16, 2023, and will trace the career of the artist, whose works were greatly admired by his contemporaries and copied frequently, well into the 17th century. This will be the first monographic exhibition dedicated to the great artist.

While in fact in recent decades many exhibitions have focused on the work of leading Flemish and Dutch painters of the 15th and 16th centuries, Hugo van der Goes has been largely neglected. This is mainly due to the rarity of his works and their often impressive size, and therefore difficult to transport. The exhibition will be held in Berlin precisely because the Gemäldegalerie houses two of Hugo van der Goes’ largest paintings, which is why the German museum’s collection lends itself to a monographic exhibition like few others. The two monumental Berlin panels, the Monforte Altarpiece (circa 1470) and the Nativity (circa 1480), will play a central role in the exhibition. Over the past twelve years, both works have undergone major restoration work. These two paintings will be joined by numerous relevant loans from European and American collections. The exhibition will thus offer viewers the opportunity to compare most of Hugo van der Goes’ known oeuvre for the first time. Alongside paintings on wood and canvas, numerous drawings will offer a more in-depth look at the artist’s output.

There will also be several paintings reproducing once-famous compositions by the master that have been lost. These include the lost side compartments of the Monforte Altarpiece in Berlin. The exhibition will be complemented by a section on Hugo van der Goes’ immediate successors, which will include a number of outstanding works that were greatly influenced by his style.

“Hugo van der Goes,” the museum explains, “was one of the most significant European artists of the early modern era. This exhibition will bring together many of his works for the first time, offering a unique visual experience. At the same time, various aspects of the artist and his work, the social and intellectual environment in which he worked, and the technical characteristics of his paintings will be conveyed in a concise and accessible manner.”

For all information you can visit the website of the Staatliche Museen Berlin.

Pictured is a detail of Hugo van der Goes’ Monforte Altarpiece.

In 2023 in Berlin the first exhibition on Hugo van der Goes

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