Hugo van der Goes (1443?-1482)

Flemish painter

The Flemish painter Hugo van der Goes (1443?-1482) was one of the most important artists of his era. Van der Goes was listed among the members of the painters' guild at Ghent in 1467. Soon he left this city for a position at the court of the last duke of Bourgogne, Charles the Bold.

Florence

Around 1474 he made a trip to Cologne, Germany. Two years later he was in Florence, where he painted his famous Portinari Altarpiece. In this painting he combined Italian influences (Domenico Ghirlandaio and Leonardo da Vinci) with elements of typical Dutch composition. This masterpiece of Medieval art was of great influence on the development of Italian painting.

Painted religious subjects

Hugo van der Goes commonly painted religious subjects, like the Holy Family. On this theme he painted several versions.

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