In Brussels, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians visited the Palais des Beaux-Arts this afternoon to view the exhibition Bellezza e Bruttezza: Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance.

The exhibition examines how artists in Italy and Northern Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries explored contrasting ideals of beauty and ugliness in their work. Through paintings, drawings, and other artworks, the exhibition traces how artistic representations evolved from the late 15th century through the end of the 16th century, a period of significant cultural and artistic transformation in Europe.

During the Renaissance, standards of beauty increasingly became a subject of social interest, reflected in the growing number of 16th century publications offering advice on cosmetics, appearance, and personal care. At the same time, artists also experimented with depictions of ugliness and the grotesque, presenting exaggerated or unconventional features in ways that reflected both humor and social commentary.

The exhibition brings together works by several major Renaissance artists, including Sandro Botticelli, Titian, Tintoretto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Quentin Massys, among others.

Bellezza e Bruttezza: Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance is on display at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels until June 14th, 2026.