Bruges welcomes masterpieces by Michelangelo, Jordaens and Boucher
World famous art works from Michelangelo, Jordaens and Boucher are coming to Bruges. From this Tuesday, May 17, seven top works from these painters from Rome, Antwerp and Paris can be admired in the Groeninge Museum for a week.
In total, the Jean van Caloen Foundation of the castle estate at Loppem, in Flanders, has entrusted the further care and administration of 1,920 drawing masterpieces and 25 sketch books by those three artists to the Print Room of Musea Brugge. The small-scale exhibition in the Groeninge Museum is a way to celebrate the transfer of these drawings dating from the late 16th century to the 20th century, collected primarily by Baron Jean van Caloen (1884-1972).
"We are very honored to welcome this fantastic collection", says Anne van Oosterwijk, collection director at Musea Brugge. "With this acquisition, a number of artists are entering the Print Room who were not yet present in our collection."
Collection highlights
The collection includes the work "The Blessing Priest" by Jacques Jordaens and a drawing of a young woman by the French master François Boucher.
The highlight is Michelangelo Buonarotti's Stoning of Saint Stephen. It is the only drawing of the celebrated Italian Renaissance artist currently held in Belgium. In this composition study, Michelangelo develops an idea for a painting or sculpture.
In addition to works by Italian and French masters, the Flemish, Dutch and Belgian schools are mainly represented. Experts from Musea Brugge will thoroughly examine the collection and will also make it digitally available to the public.
(VIV)
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© BELGA PHOTO (KURT DESPLENTER) Groeninge Museum Assistant Curator, Eveline De Wilde; Musea Brugge Directeur Collectie, Anne van Oosterwijk; Brugge's alderman, Isabelle van Caloen; Jean van Caloen Foundation, Nico Blontrock; Brugge's Mayor Dirk De Fauw; and Consultant Religious Heritage for the City of Bruges, Benoit Kervyn at the exhibition opening in Brugge