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DIERIC BOUTS.

Creator of images

  • Exhibition
  • Collection
20.10.23
14.01.24
M Leuven
‘The Fall of the Damned’, Dieric Bouts, ca. 1450 | ‘Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)’, digital concept art, Ryan Church
‘The Fall of the Damned’, Dieric Bouts, ca. 1450, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille © RMN-Grand Palais (PBA, Lille) / Stéphane Maréchalle | ‘Republic Attack Gunships on Geonosis’, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002), digital concept art, Ryan Church © Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Los Angeles

In the fall of 2023, M presents an extensive overview exhibition on Dieric Bouts in the context of the  the 'New Horizons | Dieric Bouts Festival'. Never before have so many works by the Flemish master been brought together in his hometown. Moreover, you get a totally new perspective on work from five centuries ago - through a radical confrontation with today's visual culture.

Exhibition view 'DIERIC BOUTS. Creator of images', M Leuven, 2023

Exhibition view 'DIERIC BOUTS. Creator of images', M Leuven, 2023, photo: © Jente Waerzeggers for M Leuven

Come to 'Atelier Bouts' from 16.02 and peek inside the Flemish Master's atelier.

More about 'Atelier Bouts'

Dieric Bouts

Dieric Bouts, Leuvense Vlaamse Meester

Dieric Bouts © M Leuven

Dieric Bouts

Dieric Bouts (ca. 1410-1475), who might be mentioned in the same breath as Jan Van Eyck or Rogier Van der Weyden, is one of the most important Flemish Masters. The painter spent most of his life in Leuven which is also where he painted his best panels of rich scenes, powerful portraits and otherworldly landscapes. Bouts was even given the honorary title of painter of the city in 1472. At that time, Leuven was undergoing enormous urban renewal and was experiencing glory days with its new university – the ideal context for Bouts to develop as a Renaissance artist.

A brilliant creator of images

The concept of this exhibition is definitely radical: we are not allowed to look at Bouts as an artist. The image we have today of the artiste peintre did not exist in the 15th century. Dieric Bouts was not a romantic genius or brilliant inventor, he was an image-maker. He painted what was expected of him and excelled at it, just think about master pieces such as ‘The Last Supper’ and ‘The Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus’. That is why it makes sense to confront him with today's image-makers of sports photographers, filmmakers and game developers. M places them side-by-side with the old master.

‘Last Supper Triptych’, Dieric Bouts, 1464-1468, M Leuven / Saint Peter’s Church

‘Last Supper Triptych’, Dieric Bouts, 1464-1468, M Leuven / Saint Peter’s Church, photo: artinflanders.be, Dominique Provost

‘The Virgin and Child’, Dieric Bouts (follower of), ca. 1465

‘The Virgin and Child’, Dieric Bouts (follower of), ca. 1465 © Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

‘Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus Triptych’, Dieric Bouts, ca. 1460-1464, M Leuven / Saint Peter’s Church

‘Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus Triptych’, Dieric Bouts, ca. 1460-1464, M Leuven / Saint Peter’s Church, photo: artinflanders.be, Dominique Provost

‘Triptych with the Passion of Christ’, Dieric Bouts, 15th century

‘Triptych with the Passion of Christ’, Dieric Bouts, 15th century © Museo del Patriarca del Real Colegio y Seminario de Corpus Christi, Valencia

‘Christ in the house of the Pharisee Simon’, Dieric Bouts, 1450-1475

‘Christ in the house of the Pharisee Simon’, Dieric Bouts, 1450-1475 ©  Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, photo: Christoph Schmidt

We follow that that line to Leuven's Saint Peter’s Church which is the place that Bouts painted his 'The Last Supper' for. For this occasion, the masterpiece will be moved to M and in the church, M will bring an in-situ presentation by American conceptual artist, writer and filmmaker Jill Magid.

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Ready to visit M? All the texts and audio that you can use during your visit can also be consulted digitally.

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Eleven questions on Dieric Bouts

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Dieric Bouts

Publication: DIERIC BOUTS. Creator of images

Dieric Bouts is one of the most elusive figures in the history of Western art. Flemish primitive of the second generation, painter of silence – such are the labels that are usually attributed to him. But was the Master of Brabant not more than that?

 

This book attempts to get closer to this enigmatic figure. Bouts had both feet in his world: it is perhaps that we seem unable to understand his work. This book includes comprehensive essays and shorter texts that outline the social, intellectual, and artistic context in which Bouts worked. They highlight his oeuvre from new angles and offer new perspectives on works that are now more than five centuries old – through a radical confrontation with the visual culture of today. The result is a more nuanced image of the great artist from Leuven. Dieric Bouts regains his place in the history of art as the eye-expanding maker of images that he was.

 

The publication (€ 49,95) will be available at Barbóék in M. Available from 20 October 2023.

DIERIC BOUTS. Beeldenmaker

More about dieric bouts

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Curator Peter Carpreau en cartoonist Lectrr over ‘DIERIC BOUTS. Beeldenmaker’
Curator Peter Carpreau en cartoonist Lectrr over ‘DIERIC BOUTS. Beeldenmaker’
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Bouts-bier
Bouts on your plate
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Restauratie werk Dieric Bouts
Restoration of Bouts' 'The Martyrdom of Saint Erasmus'
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