300 YEARS OF FLEMISH MASTERWORKS

Service Description

Exhibition Dates: June 28, 2025 – January 18, 2026 Location: Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Address: Level 3, Centre Block, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6 Descriptions Between the 15th and 17th centuries, Flanders — now part of Belgium — produced some of the most influential artists in Western art history. Rubens, Van Dyck, Memling, and their contemporaries portrayed faith, emotion, folly, and daily life with unprecedented realism and depth. The Royal Ontario Museum’s major exhibition, Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools, features over 150 exquisite artworks that take visitors deep into 300 years of Flemish creativity. Co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and The Phoebus Foundation of Antwerp, this is the exhibition’s Canadian premiere. With paintings, sculptures, maps, and instruments spanning from the late medieval period to the Baroque, it reflects a time when art, science, and society evolved in close dialogue. The themes range from sacred devotion to witty critique, showcasing the diverse character of Flemish urban culture. The journey begins with richly symbolic religious art of the 15th century, where visual imagery shaped spiritual understanding and social values. In the late 16th century, artists explored satire and morality through portrayals of fools and folly. These works balance humor with reflection, embodying the rise of humanist thought and social commentary. The 17th century marks a peak in Flemish art, with dramatic works by Rubens, Van Dyck, and others capturing the emotions of a society shaped by war and ambition. Maps and scientific tools accompany these masterpieces, illustrating Flanders’ role as a hub of global trade, exploration, and intellectual exchange. The exhibition concludes with a reimagined 17th-century Kunstkammer, or art cabinet — a private collection space filled with rare and curious objects. These rooms symbolized status and curiosity, and foreshadowed the idea of the modern museum. Visitors are invited to reflect on the human urge to collect, interpret, and admire. Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools is more than a celebration of visual beauty — it’s a powerful exploration of how art responds to its time and continues to speak across centuries. It reminds us why art still matters, and how these centuries-old works remain astonishingly relevant today. Note: - Opening hours are 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. - Please note that OGP may organize a group visit for members and enthusiasts, depending on circumstances.