‘The journey of a Genius from Antwerp to Genoa and London’
20 March to 19 July 2026  at the Doge’s Apartment, Palazzo Ducale in Genova.

Next spring, Palazzo Ducale will host the largest monographic exhibition on the Flemish painter Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 – London 1641) in the last 25 years.

The exhibition will feature over 50 autograph paintings and include loans from 32 museums in 22 cities across Europe, such as the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid, and the National Gallery in London.

Following the exceptional public and critical success of the 2022 “Rubens in Genoa” exhibition, Palazzo Ducale is hosting a new international exhibition dedicated to another master of European painting, who significantly matured artistically during his time in Genoa.

Three paintings by Rubens, his master, will allow for specific comparisons in an exhibition that is otherwise entirely focused on the masterful art of one of the world’s most beloved artists.

Van Dyck’s immense stature lies not only in the quality of his work but also in his ability to adapt his art to be in tune with the diverse commissioning environments, changing what was necessary to attract new clients, skillfully indulging their tastes, and aligning with each milieu in which he operated.

The exhibition unfolds in the rooms of the Doge’s Apartment and includes the splendid Doge’s Chapel. The various sections follow a narrative thread that aims to recount the growth and development of Van Dyck’s art in the three fundamental cities of his career—Antwerp, Genoa, and London—by following these different stages through the comparison of certain themes and iconographies. The visitor will thus learn how every artistic and cultural environment can influence and shape the art of a painter, even and perhaps especially when dealing with a true genius like Van Dyck.

Two youthful self-portraits; portraits of elegant Genoese, Antwerpen, and English ladies; works commissioned by King Charles I of England; persuasive mythological works; and intense sacred works will immerse the visitor in the magical creative world of a genius.

The exhibition is curated by Anna Orlando and Katlijne Van der Stighelen.