Art enthusiasts have just a few remaining days to witness an extraordinary exhibition showcasing the collaborative masterpieces of Jan Brueghel the Elder and Hendrick van Balen, two titans of Flemish painting from the 16th and 17th centuries. The exceptional show, titled "Brueghel & Van Balen, Artist Partners," features works on loan from Europe's most prestigious museums and runs through September 28, 2025, at the Museum of Flanders in Cassel, France.
The groundbreaking exhibition highlights thirteen paintings created through the remarkable artistic partnership between Brueghel and van Balen, including floral and fruit compositions, religious scenes, and allegorical works. This collaborative approach, spanning nearly 25 years from 1600 to 1625, saw Brueghel creating landscapes and still-life elements while van Balen executed the human figures. Their subjects ranged from Allegories of the Elements to divine banquet scenes and floral garlands surrounding medallions with the Virgin and Child.
The exhibition commemorates the 400th anniversary of Jan Brueghel the Elder's death in 2025. As the youngest son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Jan belonged to one of the most important artistic dynasties in Flemish painting history. Cécile Laffon, director of the Museum of Flanders and co-curator of the exhibition, explained that they chose to approach Brueghel's career through the lens of collaboration to offer a fresh perspective on this emblematic figure of Flemish art.
This curatorial approach also allowed the exhibition to shine new light on Hendrick van Balen, Brueghel's most frequent collaborator who, despite having equivalent fame during his lifetime, has been completely forgotten today. Remarkably, no exhibition has ever been dedicated solely to van Balen's work. The research conducted for this show has resulted in new attributions to the artist and the restoration of several paintings.
Among the 71 works displayed, with loans from institutions including the Louvre, the Prado in Madrid, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, one piece particularly stands out. "The Wedding of Thetis and Peleus," an oil on copper painting, depicts the Olympic gods gathered around a white-clothed table for a majestic banquet in a forest clearing. Each guest is identifiable through their attributes: Diana, goddess of the hunt, appears with her back turned, alongside her dog and bow; Neptune, god of the sea, sits near his trident; and Mercury, messenger of the gods, wears his winged helmet.
The married couple consists of the sea nymph Thetis and the hero Peleus, and while harmony seems perfect, the goddess of Discord, Eris, lurks in the background foliage, holding a golden apple. Angered by not being invited to the wedding, she will soon throw the golden apple inscribed "To the most beautiful" onto the table, an act that will eventually lead to the Trojan War. These references to Greco-Roman mythology demonstrate the painters' erudition and contribute to the charm of these detail-rich paintings.
What makes this particular work exceptional is how seamlessly the two artists' hands blend together. Van Balen's figures are so completely integrated into Brueghel's landscape that it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish their separate contributions. This perfect harmony reflects the close relationship between the two artists, who lived on the same street in Antwerp and whose collaborations were clearly the result of regular joint work sessions.
The exhibition reveals a completely unprecedented aspect of Jan Brueghel's career while rediscovering the forgotten talent of Hendrick van Balen. Some paintings are being shown to the public for the first time, demonstrating how perfectly Brueghel's talent as a colorist and miniaturist complemented van Balen's delicate and refined figures. This unique artistic partnership produced works that showcase the technical mastery and creative synergy that defined the golden age of Flemish painting, making the exhibition an unmissable opportunity for art lovers to witness this extraordinary collaboration before it closes.
