Flemish Primitives | Use and development: City Promotion

Flemish cities flaunted their wealth in the 15th Century with the construction of new churches, guild houses and prominent townhouses.

Bruges is a good example of this display of prosperity. The construction works are an inspiration for art of painting. However, the connection with the city was also stressed by means of integrating the important public figures, often local commissioners of works, within the scenes portrayed. In addition, local weaponry, heraldic colours and family armaments functioned as elements of city promotion and to emphasise the city identity.

Text: Vanessa Paumen

Thematic collection presentation | Use and development: City Promotion

Judgement of Cambyses

1498 Gerard David

Musea Brugge

Moreel Triptych

1484 Hans Memling

Musea Brugge

Madonna with Canon Joris van der Paele

1436 Jan van Eyck

Musea Brugge

The Members of the Guild of the Old Crossbow of Mechelen

c. 1497 Meester van de Mechelse Sint-Jorisgilde

Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Calvary

ca. 1515 - ca. 1530 Jan Provoost

Museum of Fine Arts Ghent

Death and the Miser

circa 1515 - circa 1521 Jan Provoost

Musea Brugge

Madonna with John the Baptist and Saint Jerome

circa 1485 - circa 1551 Adriaen Isenbrant

Musea Brugge

Your browser does not meet the minimum requirements to view this website. The browsers below are compatible. If you do not have one of these browsers, click on the icon to download the preferred browser.

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Microsoft Edge