Bellezza e Bruttezza

20 Feb. →
14 June'26

From the Ideal to the Grotesque in the Renaissance

Beauty and ugliness have always fascinated people, yet their meanings shift over time. Bellezza e Bruttezza explores how artists from Italy and Northern Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries depicted these extremes, from refined ideals to deliberate grotesques. A rare opportunity to see extraordinary works, some appearing 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.

Discover remarkable works by renowned artists such as Botticelli, Titian, Tintoretto, Cranach the Elder, Massys, and many others.

Practical information

Location

BOZAR/Centre for Fine Arts

Ravensteinstraat 23 1000 BRUSSELS

Rates

MyBozar Card

14

<26 MyBozar Card

9

** Vip Bozar

0

** Vip / Coprod.

0

** Patrons

0

** Press

0

** Artist

0

** Sponsor

0

** Concours

0

** Vip/ BNO

0

Vip Klara

0

** Servitude

0

** Protocol

0

** Déplacement | Verplaatsing

0

** Direction

0

** Réserve

0

** Vip Europalia

0

Standard

18

< 26 year

13

< 18 year

0

>65 year

16

Article 27

1.25

Paspartoe

2

Card : Preferential Reimbursement / EU Disability

9

Groups > 15 pers.

13

Group Supervisor

0

Accessibility | Wheelchair & Blind

0

Accessibility | Companion wheelchair & Blind

0

museumPASSmusées

2

ICOM

0

Carte press / Perskaarten : VVJ, AJP, IFJ, API-IPA, AICA

0

Brussels Card

0

Bozar membres Patrons

0

Bozar Lifetime Memberschip Card

0

Bozar Conseil d'Administration | Raad van Bestuur

0

Red.100%

0

Staff Bozar | Max. 2

13

Red. 100%

0

Red. 70%~

5

Red. 60%

7

Red. 50%

9

Red. 40% ~

11

Red. 30%

13

Red. 25% ~

14

Red. 20% ~

14

Red. 15% ~

15

Red. 10%~

16

Red. -10€ ~

8

Red. -2 € ~

16

1+1 Free

9

2+1 Free

12

Red. 2+2 Free

9

Groups > 10 pers

13

Groups & Guided Tours

Guided Tours

Secondary Education

Higher Education

20 Feb. →
14 June'26

Bellezza e bruttezza – schools and youth associations (+12)

Interactive guided tours for schools, academies  and youth associations

Kids’ Palace

Guided Tours

1 Mar. →
10 May'26

Bellezza e Bruttezza - Discovery Tour in Dutch +6

Guided tours for children (ages 6 to 12) + adults
All the information you need to prepare your guided tour →

Partners

  • Intesa Sanpaolo