Flemish Masters

A group of medieval angels with curly hair and ornate crowns sings from an open book. Their expressions are serene, conveying harmony and devotion.

©www.lukasweb.be - Art in Flanders vzw

Flanders is one of the places where art first originated and that is thanks to our Flemish Masters – men and women who wrote art history. Their names still resound to this day: Jan van Eyck, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Peter Paul Rubens. Since then, many generations have continued to build on their artistic foundations. Master James Ensor belongs in that category, as does Maria Faydherbe, Clara Peeters and Elisabeth Seldron.

You can discover their impressive legacy in Flanders' most prominent museums, such as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) and the Groeninge Museum Bruges. Although their work can equally be found in churches, castles, town halls, abbeys, chapels or in the artists' homes. These were the places where the Flemish Masters lived and worked and where they found the inspiration for their masterpieces.

Who are the Flemish Masters?

Between the 15th and 17th centuries, Flanders was at the artistic forefront of Western Europe. Our region inspired the main movements of that time: the Flemish Primitives, the Renaissance and the Baroque. That was the accomplishment of the Flemish Masters, whose craftsmanship, creativity and drive for innovation turned Flanders into an art region that achieved fame world-wide. Since then, generations of artists have continued to build on this rich heritage. Where better to discover that than here? Meet the Flemish Masters.

Did you know that many women artists stood in the shadow of their male colleagues for centuries? Their work was innovative and influential, but remained less visible because they often did not have access to studios or influential networks, or because their work was sometimes attributed to male colleagues, family members or spouses. In other cases, women did not sign their works or signed them using a male name. Today, we tell their stories in our museums and exhibitions, giving them the recognition they deserve for their artistic achievements and their international impact.

Jan van Eyck

The genius behind the Ghent Altarpiece, still on display in Ghent’s Saint Bavo’s Cathedral. In Bruges, the Groeninge Museum honours the master.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts Belgium, Brussels photo J. Geleyns - Ro scan

Hans Memling

This figurehead of the Flemish Primitives was at home in Bruges and that is where you can still discover his works full of detail, symbolism and sophistication.

©Johannes Wierix - KBR

Pieter Bruegel

A brilliant enigma of painting. Bruegel lived for a time in Antwerp, but was at home in Brussels. You can discover his genius in both cities.

Catharina van Hemessen

Catharina van Hemessen was a pioneer of European art. You can discover the impressive works of this talented painter’s daughter in Brussels and Antwerp.

©Rubenshuis Antwerpen collectiebeleid

Peter Paul Rubens

This master of the Baroque is Antwerp through and through. Discover Peter Paul Rubens' masterly works at the Rubenshuis, the KMSKA or in the city's Cathedral.

Jo Exelmans

Maria Faydherbe

Maria Faydherbe was one of Flanders’ first female sculptors. Discover her impressive body of work in her home city of Mechelen and at M Leuven.

Ans Brys

Clara Peeters

As the Baroque era flourished, Clara Peeters took still life to the next level. A contemporary of Rubens, you can discover her work in her home city of Antwerp.

Rubenshuis Foto: Michel Wuyts en Louis De Peuter

Anthony van Dyck

A master of refinement and elegance. Walk in his footsteps on an ambitious tour of Ghent, Dendermonde, Kortrijk, Zaventem, Antwerp and Mechelen.

Michaelina Wautier, Twee meisjes als de heiligen Agnes en Dorothea, inv.nr. 599, foto Rik Klein Gotink, KMSKA Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap (public domain)

Fille Roelants

Michaelina Wautier

Michaelina Wautier was Baroque's leading lady. She created an exceptional oeuvre, which you can discover in her home city of Brussels, in Antwerp and Leuven.

Elisabeth Seldron

Discover Elisabeth Seldron – a court painter and an artist of landscapes and village festivals. Visit her very finest works at Saint Martin’s Church in Lierde.

A bearded man in a suit, wearing a floral hat, gazes intently. The background is an artful blend of earthy tones, conveying a contemplative mood.

James Ensor

This innovative artist is eternally linked to the North Sea. You can admire his work in his hometown of Ostend and in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

Ugent_Gicas Maximiliaan Martens

Yvonne Serruys

Yvonne Serruys is an artistic icon for the emancipation of women. As a sculptor, she conquered prudishness and shame of the female body.

Jenny Montigny [1875-1937], De speelplaats, Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België, Brussel, foto Guy Cussac, Brussel

KMSKB foto Guy Cussac Brussel

Jenny Montigny

Jenny Montigny paints with the power of light. Her oeuvre is surprising and idiosyncratic. Discover it in Ghent, Brussels and in the artists’ village of Deurle.

You’re never far away ...

Flemish masterpieces enjoy worldwide fame. For that reason, certain masterpieces are sometimes sent out of the country to be included in exhibitions in well-known museums abroad. Still, there is always plenty to do in Flanders. This was the place where the Flemish Masters lived and worked and where they found the inspiration for their masterpieces. You won't discover that anywhere better than here, in Flanders.