Rare and indispensable

Magritte, Bacon, Ensor, Moore, Jordaens, Rubens … These are just someof the world-famous names on display at the MAS in autumn 2023. Thenot-to-be-missed exhibition 'Rare and Indispensable' brings a uniqueselection of masterpieces from the Flemish masterpiece list. Works of artyou would otherwise have to travel all over Flanders to see, or which werenever even publicly accessible, can now be temporarily admired in onemuseum hall. All in honour of the 20th anniversary of the 'FlemishMasterpiece Decree'.Tuesday 31 October 2023 until Sunday 25 February 2024 from 10:00 to17:00Over twenty museums, large and small, as well as churches, libraries andprivate collectors, temporarily lend masterpieces from their collections tothe MAS. All works are part of the Flemish Masterpiece List or have beenacquired by the government since 2003.Famous paintings by Hugo van der Goes, Rubens, Jordaens, Ensor,Magritte and Bacon, sculptures by Lucas Faydherbe and Henry Moore, aswell as precious silver, medieval manuscripts and a rare piece of furnitureby Pierre Gole, ébeniste du roi of the French king Louis XIV, canexceptionally be admired in one place at the same time.Curators Thomas Leysen and Ben Van Beneden, members of the'Topstukkenraad' (Masterpiece council), selected all the masterpieces forthis exhibition.The MAS has 6 Flemish masterpieces in its collection. Two of these will beexposed in the exhibition, two other works are on display in the VisibleStorage on the 2e floor (free entrance to the public).'Rare and indispensable' will be a must-see, celebrating the 20thanniversary of the Flemish Masterpiece Decree. Visitors can expect asurprising journey through European art history.