Van Dyck the European: major retrospective at Palazzo Ducale, Genoa

Van Dyck the European: exhibition overview

Palazzo Ducale in Genoa presents Van Dyck the European. The journey of a genius from Antwerp to Genoa and London, the most comprehensive retrospective of the Flemish master in the past twenty-five years. On view from 20 March to 19 July 2026, the show brings together roughly sixty works organized into ten thematic sections that trace Van Dyck’s development across Flanders, Italy and England.

What to see

The exhibition is arranged by themes highlighting the artist’s three creative phases and his adaptability to different cultural contexts. Alongside celebrated portraits, the display emphasizes Van Dyck’s sacred compositions and their dramatic, theatrical quality.

• Early self-portrait from the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, which opens the itinerary;
• Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine (Prado, Madrid) and the Saint Sebastian (Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh);
• The monumental Crucifixion from the church of San Michele di Pagana in Rapallo, the only public altarpiece by Van Dyck in Liguria;
• Portraits and studies on loan from institutions such as the Louvre, the National Gallery (London), the Uffizi, the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Thyssen and the Kunsthistorisches Museum;
• Works from Italian and European collections and contributions from Genoese civic collections, with suggested visits to the Musei di Strada Nuova (Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco).

Curatorship and production

The exhibition is produced by Palazzo Ducale Fondazione per la Cultura, with support from the Liguria Region and the Municipality of Genoa. Curators are Anna Orlando and Katlijne Van der Stighelen, assisted by an international honorary scientific committee. The project highlights Van Dyck’s ties to Genoa and the city’s collections.

Practical information

• Dates: 20 March – 19 July 2026
• Venue: Appartamento and Cappella del Doge, Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
• Opening hours: Monday 14:00–19:00; Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–19:00; Friday extended to 20:00
• Tickets: full €15; reduced €13; over 65 €14; under 25 €9
• Advance sale: available from 20 December on Palazzo Ducale’s official website
• Main sponsor: Banca Passadore. Catalogue published by Allemandi (English edition Hannibal Books).

Why visit

This exhibition reunites important loans and local treasures to present a rounded picture of Van Dyck’s art, from intimate portraits to large-scale religious scenes. It is an ideal opportunity to study his stylistic evolution and to follow the traces of his long stay in Genoa through the city’s museums and historical sites.