Hugo van der Goes: Between Pain and Bliss

Published to accompany the first major monographic exhibition dedicated to Hugo van der Goes, this richly illustrated catalog brings together nearly all surviving paintings and drawings by one of the most important masters of Early Netherlandish art.

More than five centuries after the artist’s death, the exhibition reunited an unprecedented number of surviving works, including twelve of the fourteen paintings currently attributed to van der Goes, his surviving drawings, important workshop material, and key works by artists influenced by his style. Loans from dozens of international museums and collections made it possible to present the most comprehensive survey of the artist’s oeuvre ever assembled.

The publication explores both the artistic achievements and the remarkable biography of van der Goes, whose life has fascinated scholars for centuries. Essays examine his innovative pictorial language, emotional intensity, monumental altarpieces, and lasting influence on European painting. Special attention is given to major masterpieces such as the Monforte Altarpiece, the Nativity, and the celebrated Death of the Virgin from Bruges, presented following extensive conservation campaigns.

Lavishly illustrated and supported by expert scholarship, Hugo van der Goes: Between Pain and Bliss offers an authoritative overview of one of the defining figures of Early Netherlandish painting. An essential reference for collectors, museum professionals, researchers, and anyone interested in Flemish Primitive art and Northern Renaissance masterpieces.