Un trésor dévoilé

Discovered in a church in Milan, an altarpiece has been revealed to be a masterpiece of Brussels sculpture from the late 15th century. Commissioned by a wealthy Milanese merchant active in trade with Northern Europe, this altarpiece, dedicated to the Adoration of the Magi, presents a sophisticated composition featuring sumptuous costumes, ornaments inspired by the East, and scenes drawn from popular literature then in vogue in Brussels. The restoration of the work, entrusted to the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA), uncovered beneath a thick, dark varnish the extraordinary quality of the sculpture, enhanced by an exceptionally refined polychromy. Stylistic and technical analysis supports the attribution of the altarpiece to Jan II Borman, the renowned Brussels sculptor, at the height of his career. With technical prowess and finesse of execution, the artist delivers here a work in which polychromy is so intimately intertwined with the sculpted décor that it seems he collaborated directly with the polychromist to create a subtle interplay of textures in the rendering of fabrics and accessories. This monograph unveils the unexpected discoveries made possible through close interdisciplinary collaboration between Belgium and Italy. The altarpiece now stands as a key milestone in the art history of the former Southern Netherlands.