Group of men playing the flute to impress a woman, who is holding a dog and smiling
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Jacob Jordaens, Serenade, about 1640– 45. Oil paint on canvas; 54 1/8 × 70 1/2 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools

300 Years of Flemish Masterworks
Through Jan 22, 2023

Jacob Jordaens, Serenade, about 1640– 45. Oil paint on canvas; 54 1/8 × 70 1/2 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

See the US debut of these Flemish artworks. Many have never been on view to the public before even in Belgium!

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks is a unique presentation of medieval, Renaissance, and baroque paintings, sculptures, and other objects from the Southern Netherlands. Masterpieces on display include works by, among many others, Hans Memling, Jan Gossaert, Jan and Catharina van Hemessen, Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens, and Anthony van Dyck.

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools offers a look into the specific subjects and styles adopted by artists in the Southern Netherlands between the 15th and 17th centuries, providing important connections to the society and culture of the time. These works depict a rapidly-changing world through unique styles, subjects, and techniques, offering insight into the past and the chance to create parallels to our world today.

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools is a collaboration with The Phoebus Foundation and introduces U.S. audiences to the Belgium-based foundation's comprehensive 15th- to 17th century Flemish art collection for the first time. This ticketed exhibition is on view for a limited time, from October 16, 2022, through January 22, 2023.

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Hamilton Building, Level 2
Ticket required, discount for members
A woman, priest, and angel look over a baby in a Nativity scene

Hans Memling and Workshop, The Nativity, about 1480. Oil paint on panel; 44 3/8 × 34 1/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Two young men dressed as jesters snickering to each other

Jan Massys, Rebus: The World Feeds Many Fools, about 1530. Oil paint on panel; 20 1/4 × 24 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Flemish painting of a woman looking over her shoulder next to a man staring intently at her

Peter Paul Rubens, A Sailor and a Woman Embracing, about 1615–18. Oil paint on panel; 39 3/8 × 31 1/4 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Naked humans and animals in repose in the garden of Eden

Hendrick de Clerck and Denijs van Alsloot, The Garden of Eden with the Four Elements, 1613. Oil paint on copper; 32 1/4 × 38 1/2 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Group of men playing the flute to impress a woman, who is holding a dog and smiling

Jacob Jordaens, Serenade, about 1640– 45. Oil paint on canvas; 54 1/8 × 70 1/2 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Triptych featuring a baby being worshipped in the center, flanked by two men on opposite sides watching over

Master of Frankfurt and Workshop, The Adoration of the Magi with Emperor Frederick III and Emperor Maximilian, about 1510– 20. Oil paint on panel; 56 1/8 × 78 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Portrait of a husband and wife sitting and playing a tables game

Jan van Hemessen, Double Portrait of a Husband and Wife Playing Tables, 1532. Oil paint on panel; 54 7/8 × 61 1/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

A pantry full of dead game, including birds, deer, and other animals

Frans Snyders, A Pantry with Game, about 1640. Oil paint on canvas; 77 1/2 × 103 7/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Painting of young William the Orange standing up in a red formal dress clothes

Anthony van Dyck, Portrait of Prince William II of Orange as a Child, about 1631. Oil paint on canvas; 56 3/4 × 47 1/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Painting of a nightmarish dark landscape with people and objects strewn about

Follower of Hieronymus Bosch, Hell, about 1540– 50. Oil paint on panel; 55 5/8 × 45 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Three panels depiciting a group of men and women admiring a newborn baby

Pieter Coecke van Aelst, Triptych with the Adoration of the Magi, about 1530– 40. Oil paint on panel; 47 1/4 × 68 1/4 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Poster-sized painting depiciting a crowd of worshippers gathered around Christ on the cross.

Philippe de Mazerolles, Life and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ [Gruuthuse manuscript], about 1460. Illuminated manuscript on parchment; 12 1/8 × 8 7/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

A mother in a blue dress and white cap holding her newborn baby

Jan Gossaert, The Virgin and Child, about 1520. Oil paint on panel; 18 3/4 × 14 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

Portrait of a middle-aged man in formal wear and expensive coat

Jan van Scorel, Portrait of Joost Aemsz. van der Burch, about 1530–41. Oil paint on panel; 44 5/8 × 40 3/4 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Portrait of a smirking elderly woman in green and gold clothing

Jan van Hemessen, Portrait of Elisabeth, Court Fool of Anne of Hungary, about 1525. 25 1/2 × 22 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

A group of women hunting deer with a long spear and a pack of dogs

Peter Paul Rubens and Studio, Diana Hunting with Her Nymphs, about 1636–37. Oil paint on canvas; 78 3/4 × 157 7/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

A child in black looking at and holding another child in white

Michaelina Wautier, Everyone to His Taste, about 1650. Oil paint on canvas; 36 5/8 × 42 7/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

A man and wife posing in a large gallery room covered in paintings

Peeter Neefs II and Gillis van Tilborgh, Portrait of an Elegant Couple in an Art Cabinet, 1652 and about 1675. Oil paint on canvas; 51 5/8 × 62 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

Bust of a woman with a skeletal face painted on the back of her head

Catarina Ykens II, Vanitas Bust of a Lady, 1688. Oil paint on panel; 12 1/2 × 12 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp

Portrait of a young dark-haired man with his paint palette in-hand

Jan Cossiers, Self-Portrait, about 1620– 27. Oil paint on panel; 35 1/4 × 28 1/2 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Roses, tulips, and narcissi in a glass vase

Daniël Seghers, Roses, Tulips, and Narcissi in a Glass Vase, about 1630– 40. Oil paint on copper; 20 3/8 × 17 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Related Articles

Dive deeper into the exhibition by reading articles written by museum curators and staff.

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Look Inside the Exhibition

Watch this sneak peek of Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools, hailed by Christie's as "one of the best exhibitions of 2022 in North America."

Couple posing in the center of a large room filled with artworks

Peeter Neefs II and Gillis van Tilborgh, Portrait of an Elegant Couple in an Art Cabinet, 1652 and about 1675. Oil paint on canvas; 51 5/8 x 62 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Flemish Art in Context

With the Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools exhibition as our springboard, join international and local scholars for a deeper look into Flemish art. Over four sessions, participants will examine the works on view more closely, fall in love with the visual richness of Flemish art, and return to the galleries with a newfound understanding of what was behind their production. 

Two young men dressed as jesters snickering to each other

Jan Massys, Rebus: The World Feeds Many Fools, about 1530. Oil paint on panel; 20 1/4 × 24 3/8 in. © The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp.

Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools for Members

Browse through the Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools offerings we have in store for members, including members-only hours, tours, and advance preview, as well as discounted tickets to a four-session course on Flemish art.

From Memling to Rubens book cover depicting two half-dressed women mid-stride

Publications

From Memling to Rubens: The Golden Age of Flanders tells the story of Flemish art from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, as you've never read it before. It's a rollercoaster ride through 300 years of cultural history. Leading the charge are breathtaking masterpieces from the collection of The Phoebus Foundation, unknown gems by the likes of Hans Memling, Quinten Metsys, Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van Dyck that plunge you into a world full of folly and sin, fascination and ambition. Along the way you'll bump into dukes and emperors, rich citizens and poor saints, picture galleries like wine cellars, and Antwerp as Hollywood on the Scheldt.

This is a stirring tale about the image and its meaning, and the link between culture and society. Above all, it's about us, and about who we are today—as people.

This catalog and many others is available to purchase in the DAM Shop or online.

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Saints, Sinners, Lovers, and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks is co-organized by the Denver Art Museum and The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp (Belgium). It is presented by the Birnbaum Social Discourse Project. Support is provided by the Tom Taplin Jr. and Ted Taplin Endowment, Keith and Kathie Finger, Lisë Gander and Andy Main, the Kristin and Charles Lohmiller Exhibitions Fund, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, Christie's, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado.