Art of Magnificence
- Special Exhibition
Philip the Good and Isabella of Portugal
About The Exhibition
The Cleveland Museum of Art, in partnership with the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon in Dijon, France, presents a major exhibition exploring the life, legacy, and cultural impact of Duke Philip the Good (1396–1467) of Burgundy and Isabella of Portugal (1397–1471), one of the most influential ruling couples of 1400s Europe. Bringing together exceptional loans from leading international museums and collections, the exhibition features some of the most celebrated works of art created during a period of extraordinary political, economic, and artistic achievement.
Under Philip the Good, the Burgundian Netherlands emerged as one of Europe’s most prosperous and culturally sophisticated regions, rivaling the great centers of the Italian Renaissance, such as Florence. Through paintings, manuscripts, sculpture, tapestries, jewelry, and luxury objects, the exhibition examines how art, ceremony, diplomacy, and courtly magnificence were employed. Rooted in Christian piety, these expressions helped project authority across a vast and diverse territory stretching from Burgundy to the North Sea.
Moving past traditional narratives concentrated on a single ruler, the exhibition highlights the crucial role of Isabella of Portugal as diplomat, patron, administrator, and partner in shaping Burgundian power. It also investigates the contributions of members of the court and artists whose activities helped disseminate Burgundian culture throughout Europe.
A special section focuses on the Order of the Golden Fleece, an elite order of knighthood founded in 1430 to commemorate Philip’s marriage to Isabella. Combining chivalric ideals with political purpose, the order became one of the most prestigious institutions of its kind and remains active today.
By looking at the dynamic relationship between court and city, wealth and power, artistic innovation and political ambition, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on a transformative period at the beginning of the modern age. Visitors encounter the vibrant world of the Burgundian court, which left an enduring legacy that extended far beyond its borders.
Art of Magnificence: Philip the Good and Isabella of Portugal is organized by the Cleveland Museum of Art in collaboration with the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Dijon.
Featured Art
Sponsors
Principal support is provided by John and Jeanette Walton.
All exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art are underwritten by the CMA Fund for Exhibitions. Principal annual support is provided by Michael Frank and the late Pat Snyder, the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation, the John and Jeanette Walton Exhibition Fund, and Margaret and Loyal Wilson. Major annual support is provided by the late Dick Blum and Harriet Warm and the Frankino-Dodero Family Fund for Exhibitions Endowment. Generous annual support is provided by two anonymous donors, Gini and Randy Barbato, Cynthia and Dale Brogan, Dr. Ben and Julia Brouhard, Brenda and Marshall Brown, Gail and Bill Calfee, the Leigh H. Carter family, Dr. William A. Chilcote Jr. and Dr. Barbara S. Kaplan, Mary and Jim Conway, Joseph and Susan Corsaro, Ron and Cheryl Davis, the Jeffery Wallace Ellis Trust in memory of Lloyd H. Ellis Jr., Leigh and Andy Fabens, Florence Kahane Goodman, Martha H. and Steven M. Hale, Janice Hammond and Edward Hemmelgarn, Linda Harper, Robin Heiser, the late Marta and the late Donald M. Jack Jr., the estate of Walter and Jean Kalberer, Robert M. Kaye, Jane and Doug Kern, the late Mrs. Nancy M. Lavelle, Eva and Rudolf Linnebach, William S. Lipscomb, Bill and Joyce Litzler, the Roy Minoff Family Fund, Lu Anne and the late Carl Morrison, Mrs. Peta and the late Dr. Roland Moskowitz, Jeffrey Mostade and Eric Nilson and Varun Shetty, Sarah Nash, Courtney and Michael Novak, Mark and Paula Nylander, Tim O’Brien and Breck Platner, Dr. Nicholas and Anne Ogan, William J. and Katherine T. O’Neill, Henry Ott-Hansen, Frank and Fran Porter, Christine Fae Powell, Peter and Julie Raskind, Michael and Cindy Resch, Marguerite and James Rigby, in memory of Dee Schafer, Betty T. and David M. Schneider, Elizabeth and Tim Sheeler, Saundra K. Stemen, Paula and Eugene Stevens, the Womens Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and Claudia Woods and David Osage.