Flemish

Flemish sculpture refers to work from the southern Low Countries (present-day Belgium), a region that produced some of Europe's finest artists from the medieval period onward. Flemish sculptors excelled in wood carving, alabaster reliefs, and bronze, often creating elaborate altarpieces and devotional objects for churches across northern Europe.

The tradition reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, when Antwerp and Brussels workshops exported carved altarpieces throughout the continent. Flemish sculptors were known for their attention to naturalistic detail and expressive faces. Our collection includes 5 Flemish works at the Art Institute of Chicago.