Bozar in Brussels is presenting an exhibition on Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance
Bellezza e Bruttezza, 20 February - 14 June 2026
Beauty and Ugliness have always fascinated people, yet their meanings shift over time. From 20 February to 14 June 2026, Bozar presents Bellezza e Bruttezza, a historical exhibition that explores how artists from Italy and Northern Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries depicted these extremes. From refined ideals to deliberate caricatures. A rare opportunity to see extraordinary and precious works of Botticelli, Titian, Da Vinci, Tintoretto, Cranach the Elder, Matsys, and many others, displayed in Belgium for the first and only time.
The exhibition traces how the standards of Beauty and Ugliness evolved from the last quarter of the 15th century to the end of the 16th century—key transitional periods— by juxtaposing in a rich and compelling confrontation the ways in which these two subjects were interpreted by the greatest Italian artists and their counterparts from Northern Europe. Beauty became an increasingly important social concern at this time, as shown by the rising number of 16th-century publications offering “recipes for looking beautiful” and advice on cosmetics and care. Meanwhile, Ugliness also grew in prominence in art, appearing in a widening range of forms throughout the same period.
Over 90 exceptional works are on display at Bozar. The selection includes works by renowned artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Leonardo da Vinci, Frans Floris de Vriendt, Albrecht Dürer, Lorenzo Lotto, Quentin Metsys,Titian, Tintoretto, Carracci, Bordone, Sellaer, Dürer, Veronese, Campi, Dossi...
The exhibition brings together these precious works from public and private collections across Europe and the United States. The prestigious lenders include: the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Museo Nazionale Romano in Rome, the Vatican Museum, the Louvre, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the Galleria Borghese in Rome and the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice.
An adapted form of the exhibition will travel to the Gallerie d’Italia in Milan ( 9 July → 18 Oct.'26).
Practical information
Bellezza e Bruttezza
The Ideal, the Real and the Caricature in the Renaissance
20 February → 14 June 2026
Bozar – Centre for Fine Arts of Brussels
Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels
Press Opening: Thu 19 Feb.'26 at 11 am
Curator: Chiara Rabbi Bernard
Partner: Intesa Sanpaolo
Support: Vlaamse Overheid , Belgian Federal Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Foreign trade & Development Cooperation
A few figures:
- 95 works
> 63 paintings
> 16 works on paper
> 9 sculptures
> 7 objects
- Over 60 prestigiuous international lenders Accompanying programme
Quotes
Beauty and ugliness reinforce each other.
— Léonardo da Vinci
The exhibition “Bellezza e Bruttezza” offers a new perspective on the dynamic tension between beauty and ugliness, exploring their most compelling expressions from the late fifteenth to the end of the sixteenth century—a pivotal moment in history.
— Chiara Rabbi Bernard, curator of the exhibition
“Bellezza e Bruttezza” reveals a nuanced vision of the Renaissance, inspired by the period’s understanding of the human being and the world. For Bozar, the exhibition is also a unique opportunity to unfold a multidisciplinary programme reflecting on contemporary perceptions of physical beauty.
— Christophe Slagmuylder, CEO & Artistic Director of Bozar – Centre of Fine Arts, Brussels
Selection of images
Sandro Botticelli Allegorical Portrait of a Woman (possibly Simonetta Vespucci), 1475-90 Tempera and oil on canvas, 58,8 x 40,5 cm Private collection
Niccolò Frangipane (attribué à) Repas bachique, c 1580 Oil on canvas, 122 x 154 cm Musée municipal de Soissons
