Signed, Jan R.

The exhibition Signed, Jan R. illustrates the newly discovered importance of Jan Rombouts in the painting of the Southern Low Countries. It also sketches a renewed portrait of Jan van Rillaer (c. 1520/1525-1570), the painter to whom the monogram IANR was long and incorrectly attributed. Following the new attributions, not a single work by van Rillaer is now known. We do, however, possess extensive information about his activities as the master painter of Leuven, such as making the ‘floats’ for the annual Ommegang procession and numerous other commissions.

A number of Jan Rombouts’ masterpieces have been in the town where they were created for the past 500 years, and many of them are in the M Collection. In conjunction with several international loans, the exhibition Signed, Jan R. A Renaissance Master Rediscovered is presenting new insights into this influential artist in his own hometown. Jan Rombouts’ rediscovered, versatile oeuvre is being presented for the first time, and will be juxtaposed with work by Albrecht Bouts, Lucas Van Leyden, Albrecht Dürer, Jan Willems and other Leuven masters. Discover the colourful, versatile artist Jan Rombouts and his context!

Curators: Yvette Bruijnen and Marjan Debaene