Media Alert: Unprecedented and Unlikely-to-Be-Repeated Exhibition of Memling's Portraits, October 12 through December 31, 2005

painting of a man dressed in black at three-quarter view

The Frick Collection is the only museum in the United States to present this keenly anticipated touring exhibition of paintings by the important Netherlandish artist Hans Memling (c. 1440–1494). The presentation of Memling’s Portraits in New York provides the most comprehensive overview undertaken of the artist’s successful career in portraiture, with a selection of more than twenty works by the master and his school, including portrait-wings from diptychs and triptychs along with autonomous panels of individual patrons. Nearly two-thirds of all of Memling’s recorded portraits are featured in this exhibition, which is considered to be an unprecedented viewing opportunity, and one unlikely to be repeated. Indeed, the exhibition, which not only illuminates the career of a Renaissance master, but also explores the function of portraiture in the Netherlands during the fifteenth century, has been a highlight of international museum calendars this year, having been met with critical acclaim at both of its European venues (last spring at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, and this summer at the Groeningemuseum, Bruges). The touring exhibition was co-organized by those institutions and the Frick. Its New York showing and final stop–running from October 12 through December 31, 2005–is coordinated by Chief Curator Colin B. Bailey.

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