In early 15th - century Flanders, the great masters Jan Van Eyck, Rogier Van der Weyden and Robert Campin laid the foundations for a new form of art. Miniaturists gave way to artists who worked on wooden panels,and who had mastered the revolutionary methods of oil painting. This technical progress helped them both to portray the realities of everyday life, and to convey their theological message. The introduction of landscape transformed the composition of great religious set pieces, such as Van Eyck's Adoration of the Lamb.Interior scenes like Van der Weyden's Annunciation began to incorporate still life compositions, and the donors' portraits took on a new mystical idealism.The century was rich in major artistic figures: Hugo Van der Goes, Petrus Christus, Dieric Bouts, Hans Memling and Hieronymus Bosch. Finally, in the art of Quentin Massys,the Flemish tradition was fused with the lessons of Italian art, thus setting the tone for the century that was to follow.

FLANDERS UNDER THE DUKES OF BURGUNDY

THE ORIGINS OF FLEMISH ART

  MELCHIOR BROEDERLAM

FOUNDING FATHERS

  HUBERT AND JAN VAN EYCK

 ROBERT CAMPIN

 ROGIER VAN DER WEYDEN

 PETRUS CHRISTUS

WORTHY SUCCESSORS

 DIERIC BOUTS

JUSTUS OF GHENT

  HUGO VAN DER GOES

TRADITION AND INNOVATION

 HIERONYMUS BOSCH

 HANS MEMLING

 QUENTIN MASSYS

IN THE SHADOW OF THE MASTERS

JACQUES DARET

 GERARD DAVID

 THE MASTER OF THE LEGEND

 OF ST URSULA

JAN GOSSART

FURTHER READING

MAP: THE STATES OF BURGUNDY