Van Dyck in Genoa: Major Exhibition at Palazzo Ducale from March 20 to

Van Dyck in Genoa: the exhibition at Palazzo Ducale

From March 20 to July 19, 2026, Palazzo Ducale in Genoa presents Van Dyck l’Europeo. The journey of a genius from Antwerp to Genoa and London, an exhibition outlining the artist’s career through geographic and thematic perspectives.

What the exhibition offers

The display covers Antoon van Dyck’s major career phases: his early years in the Low Countries, the crucial Italian period with a strong link to Genoa, and his mature phase at the English court. The exhibition groups works by themes rather than strict chronology to highlight stylistic continuities and contrasts.

Highlights

• About sixty works on display, fifty of them autograph.
• Loans from leading European museums and private collections.
• A focused account of Genoa as a formative cultural hub for Van Dyck during his Italian years (1621–1627).
• Sections devoted to portraits, sacred paintings, mythological subjects and commissions for the court of Charles I.
• The Crucifixion from San Michele di Pagana featured as a prominent work linked to the Ligurian context.

Exhibition layout and city connections

The show occupies the Appartamento del Doge and the Cappella del Doge, and engages with Genoa’s civic collections. A related program at the Musei di Strada Nuova expands the narrative, connecting Van Dyck and his contemporaries with the city’s historical fabric.

Why visit

• To trace Van Dyck’s stylistic development within a European framework.
• To see a diverse selection of portraits and large-scale paintings that reveal technical and thematic range.
• To explore the artist’s specific ties to the Ligurian region and Genoa’s artistic scene.

Practical information

Dates: March 20 – July 19, 2026.
Venue: Palazzo Ducale, Genoa (Appartamento del Doge and Cappella del Doge).

Check official Palazzo Ducale channels or Genoa cultural information services for opening hours, ticketing and reservation details before planning your visit.