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Prayers and Portraits: Unfolding the Netherlandish Diptych

For the first time an exhibition will focus on Netherlandish diptychs, featuring some of the most beautiful and intriguing paintings of the 15th and 16th centuries. Premiering at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, from November 12, 2006, through February 4, 2007, 'Prayers and Portraits: Unfolding the Netherlandish Diptych' includes 89 paintings, presenting 37 complete diptychs or pairs of paintings, reuniting some panels that have been separated for centuries, with 22 pairs on loan in the United States for the first time. Often small and depicting religious images as well as portraits of donors, the diptychs were painted by such Renaissance masters such as Jan van Eyck, Hugo van der Goes, Hans Memling, and Rogier van der Weyden. After closing in Washington, the exhibition will travel to the only other venue worldwide: the Koninklijk Museumúvoor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp, from March 3 through May 27, 2007.
11/07/06