The Triptych of the Descent from the Cross (ca. 1455–1460) by Dieric Bouts will return to the Royal Chapel of Granada in early June 2026. The painting spent three years in Belgium for an exhibition at M Leuven and a restoration project carried out by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA).
International collaboration as a starting point
The project originated from the exhibition Dieric Bouts – Creator of images (2023–2024) at M Leuven. For the first time in more than 500 years, the triptych left Granada, creating a unique opportunity for in-depth study and conservation treatment. The restoration project was subsequently presented to the public through the exhibition Atelier Bouts (2024), also at M Leuven.
Research and diagnosis of the triptych
Scientific examination provided new insights into the triptych’s structure, condition, and conservation history. The central panel proved particularly fragile, with significant paint loss and evidence of nineteenth-century overpainting in several areas.
During the restoration, conservators removed discolored varnishes and later additions that had obscured the original paint surface. The treatment revealed numerous details that had long remained hidden, while damaged areas were stabilized and carefully retouched according to current conservation standards. Lost passages could be reconstructed with the aid of a highly accurate early copy of the triptych, dating from around 1500 and preserved in the Museo del Patriarca in Valencia.
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- Dieric Bouts (1415-1475), Triptych of the Descent from the Cross, ca. 1455-1460, before restoration © CC-BY KIK-IRPA, Brussels
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- Dieric Bouts (1415-1475), Triptych of the Descent from the Cross, ca. 1455-1460, after restoration © CC-BY KIK-IRPA, Brussels
Return and new presentation in Granada
The restoration has restored much of the brilliance and refinement of Bouts’ original painting, bringing renewed clarity to its landscapes, architecture, figures, and richly rendered details.
To mark the triptych’s return, Granada Cathedral is presenting an exhibition developed in collaboration with M Leuven and KIK-IRPA. The international symposium Dieric Bouts in Spain (Granada, 16-17 June 2026) will also bring together specialists from across Europe to discuss new research on Bouts and his oeuvre.