Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools
The great Flemish painters are coming to the MMFA in this large-scale exhibition that brings together masterworks by Hans Memling, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Jacob Jordaens and Michaelina Wautier, among many others.
Touching on themes that have fascinated humankind from time immemorial, Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools invites you to discover some 150 art works and objects. Coming mostly from The Phoebus Foundation’s remarkable Flemish art collection, these works will transport you to the Netherlands of 1400 to 1700, in what was a dynamic period of social, scientific, economic and artistic development.
A major Canadian premiere!
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Peter Paul Rubens and Workshop (1577-1640), Diana Hunting with Her Nymphs, about 1636–1637, oil on canvas, 200 x 401 x 11.5 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
Hans Memling and Workshop (1430/1440-1494), The Nativity, about 1480, oil on panel, 112.7 x 86.7 x 7.9 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678), Serenade (As the Old Folks Pipe, the Young Folks Sing), about 1640-1645, oil on canvas, 137.5 x 179 x 9 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
Jan Massys (1509-1575), Riddle: The World Feeds Many Fools, about 1530. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
Michaelina Wautier (1604-1689), Everyone to His Taste, about 1650, oil on canvas, 93 x 109 x 10 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
Catarina Ykens II (1659-1737), Vanitas Bust of a Lady, 1688, oil on panel, 31.9 x 31.5 x 4.2 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
This exhibition co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and The Phoebus Foundation of Antwerp, Belgium, shines a light on Flemish masterworks to reveal a past that rings true today.
It begins with religious art of the 15th and early 16th centuries. Artworks packed with symbolism and delightful details give visitors an appreciation of how Flemish citizens used images to interact with higher powers, build community and secure their legacy. There is also a group of paintings depicting fools and foolish behaviour, which showcase how artists used humour to both moralize and entertain.
Pieter Coecke van Aelst I (1502-1550), Triptych with the Adoration of the Magi, about 1530-1540, oil on panel, 120 x 173.4 x 3.81 cm (open). © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
A selection of works and objects from the 17th century highlights Flanders’ significance as a cosmopolitan centre of commerce and innovation, both scientific and artistic. Navigation tools and maps join masterworks by world-renowned artists like Rubens and van Dyck, whose dramatic painterly styles spoke to the heightened emotions of a society plagued by war and political instability.
Philips Galle and Workshop (1537-1612), after Johannes Stradanus (1523-1605), Amerigo Vespucci Rediscovers America, from the series “Nova Reperta” [New Inventions of Modern Times], about 1590, engraving, 32.7 x 42.7 x 4.8 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
The exhibition ends in an immersive space inspired by the Kunstkammern, or art cabinets; elite collections of art found in the homes of the middle and upper class during this era. Often depicted in period paintings, examples of which are shown here, such spaces prefigure the modern museum and invite us to consider the range of desires – to connect, to marvel, to possess – that led to their inception.
Audiences will leave the exhibition with a rich understanding of the local and global contexts of Flemish art, an appreciation for its timeless themes and a critical awareness of this period’s integral role in shaping the world we live in. The Montreal presentation is complemented by selections from the MMFA’s renowned collection of Flemish art.
Peeter Neeffs II (1620-1675), Gillis van Tilborch (about 1625-1678), Elegant Couple in a Collector’s Art Cabinet, 1652, and about 1675, oil on canvas, 131 x 158.3 x 8.6 cm. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium
Audio tour and exploration guide
Be sure to have your smartphone and earbuds or headphones with you in order to use the exhibition audioguide. This guide will enrich your viewing, as it delves in greater detail into the subjects and styles adopted by Flemish artists between the 15th and 17th centuries.
The MMFA’s WiFi is free and accessible throughout the Museum complex.
In addition, a free activities workbook for kids is available at the exhibition entrance. This fun booklet guides children in their discovery of the works on view and allows them to express their creativity.
Enrich your experience
We offer several ways to expand on your exploration of the exhibition. See which ones appeal to you!
Boutique and publication
Take advantage of being at the Museum to browse the Boutique and Bookstore! You’ll find a wide selection of products related to the exhibition, including a richly illustrated art book, available in French and English. Various breathtaking masterpieces from The Phoebus Foundation’s collection are described in a fascinating read about the image and its meaning, which sheds light on the links between culture and society. For sale exclusively at the MMFA’s Boutique and Bookstore. Museum Members enjoy a 10% discount on the retail price.
A prelude to your visit
Watch this video produced by The Phoebus Foundation, which gives the historical context of the works on display.
Length: 7 min 10 s
Language: Flemish with French and English subtitles
Narration: Katharina Van Cauteren, Chief of Staff of The Phoebus Foundation Chancellery and curator of the exhibition
Become an MMFA Member
Join the great family of Museum Members from $35 a year. You’ll enjoy numerous perks and benefits, including unlimited free access to all the exhibitions and collections as well as a wide variety of events and activities.
Photo Thibault Carron
Credits and curatorial team
An exhibition co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp, Belgium, in collaboration with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
The exhibition is curated by Katharina Van Cauteren, Chief of Staff of The Phoebus Foundation Chancellery. The Montreal presentation is curated by Chloé M. Pelletier, Curator of European Art (before 1800) at the MMFA.
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Photo Thibault Carron
