Bigger Picture
Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550
Bruges developed throughout the Middle Ages as a world city, a hub in global networks of trade, culture and politics. At its peak, Bruges seemed to be the epicentre of the world. But the city was never isolated. Bruges was constantly in contact with other regions and cultures through trade, travel, faith and ideas. And it was precisely these connections that gave it an important role in world history.
The prestigious inaugural exhibition ‘Bigger Picture’ explores these connections. What mark did traders from Scandinavia, crusaders from Jerusalem or scholars from the Islamic world leave on the Flemish city, and vice versa?
From the North Sea, the Christian East and the Mediterranean, to courtly culture and the so-called "new" world. Five chapters full of unique, historical objects and stories from different ages and continents highlight the interactions between medieval Bruges and the rest of the world. In collaboration with renowned British historian and author prof. dr. Peter Frankopan and experts prof. dr. Jan Dumolyn, prof. dr. Jo Van Steenbergen, dr. Axel Langer and prof. dr. Wim Declercq, the exhibition shines a light on crucial but often overlooked stories about our history.
In addition to objects from Musea Brugge's rich collection, ‘Bigger Picture’ also brings unique works of art and historical objects from leading museums around the world to Bruges. From Hans Memling’s ‘Passion of Christ’ from Musei Reali Torino - Galleria Sabauda (Turin), to the anonymous ‘Portrait of Suleiman’ from Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna) or Bellini's iconic ‘Portrait of Mehmet II’ from The National Gallery (London). From exceptional manuscripts such as the only rarely lent ‘Portrait of Alexios Komnenos I’ from Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vatican) and the famous ‘Nuzhat al-mushtāq fī ikhtirāq al-āfāq’ – also known as ‘Tabula Rogeriana’ – from Bodleian Libraries (Oxford), to archaeological finds and impressive tapestries.
The Middle Ages shake off their dark image and reveal themselves in all their glory. The BRUSK exhibition is an invitation to take a broader look at history and globalisation. A must-see exploration of a larger story.
Book a guided tour
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Curators
Chief curator
Prof. Dr. Peter Frankopan (Oxford University) is a British historian and professor of world history at Oxford University. Among other books, he has written the bestseller 'The Silk Roads: A New History of the World'.
Curator
Sibylla Goegebuer (Musea Brugge) is curator of ancient art, culture and history
Guest curators
Prof. Dr. Jan Dumolyn (Ghent University) is professor of medieval history and president of the Henri Pirenne Institute for Medieval Studies at Ghent University
Prof. Dr. Jo Van Steenbergen (Ghent University) is research professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Ghent University
Dr. Axel Langer is curator of the arts of the Islamic Near and Middle East at the Rietberg Museum (Zurich, Switzerland)
Prof. Dr. Wim Declercq (Ghent University) lectures Historical Archaeology in North-Western Europe at Ghent University
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Credits main image
Left — Cresques Abraham, 'Catalan atlas', 1375, Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Digital reproduction)
Right — ‘Solomon and Bilqis Enthroned’, The David Collection, 83b/2006 & 83a/2006, © Pernille Klemp