Bigger Picture
Connected worlds of Bruges 900-1550

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? 

Different ages and continents

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 De Clercq, the exhibition shines a light on crucial but often overlooked stories about our history.

Art and objects from leading museums around the world

‘Bigger Picture’ brings together more than 250 works of art and heritage objects. Alongside masterpieces from its own collection, Musea Brugge has also secured exceptional loans from leading museums around the world for the exhibition. 

Unique artworks such as Hans Memling’s ‘Passion of Christ’ from Musei Reali Torino – Galleria Sabauda (Turin), the anonymous ‘Portrait of Suleyman’ from the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna) and Bellini’s iconic ‘Portrait of Mehmet II’ from The National Gallery (London) are travelling especially to BRUSK for this exhibition. 

The exhibition also presents exceptional manuscripts, such as the rarely loaned ‘Portrait of Alexios I Komnenos’ from the Vatican Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana and the famous ‘Nuzhat al-mushtāq fī ikhtirāq al-āfāq’ – also known as the ‘Tabula Rogeriana’ – from the Bodleian Libraries (Oxford). Several unique archaeological finds and impressive tapestries further bring the cultural richness of the Middle Ages vividly to life. 

A broader look 

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.