Rare masterpiece by Willem Key to be shown at BRAFA

‘Lamentation of Christ with Donors’ (1553) – an exceptional painting by the Antwerp-based Renaissance master Willem Key – was recently added to the Flemish Government’s masterpieces list. This monumental panel was acquired by the Charles Vreeken Fund and will be presented for the first time at the King Baudouin Foundation’s stand at the BRAFA art fair. Following the fair, the work will undergo full restoration in preparation for display in M Leuven’s prestigious autumn exhibition, ‘Flemish Sculptors in Italy’.

An outstanding acquisition for Flanders

This is a remarkable acquisition: few significant paintings by Willem Key (born c. 1515 in Breda, died 1568 in Antwerp) are found in Belgium today, and none of his works are on permanent display in a Flemish museum. The addition of the painting to M Leuven’s collection fills that gap. It is the only signed and documented painting by the master and a seminal 16th-century work. ‘Lamentation of Christ with Donors’ was recently added to the Flemish Government’s masterpieces list.

This exceptional piece has been secured through close collaboration between the King Baudouin Foundation, M Leuven, the art dealer, and a number of experts. As a result, this heritage treasure has been preserved and will remain accessible to everyone in Belgium.

Willem Key, Flemish Renaissance master

Although less well known to contemporary audiences, Willem Key was regarded during his lifetime as one of the most important figures of the Flemish Renaissance – a status that experts still ascribe to him today. As a pupil of Pieter Coecke and Lambert Lombard, Key’s paintings combine Flemish tradition with Italian boldness. Subtle realism, emotional restraint, and meticulous attention to texture are the hallmarks of his style. Although renowned for his portraits, he was also a remarkable history painter, recognized and admired by his contemporaries. He portrayed the powerful figures of his era, including the Duke of Alva. During the Iconoclastic Fury of 1566, much of his work was destroyed – which is why we are less familiar with his oeuvre today.

A religious scene with donor portraits

‘Lamentation of Christ with Donors’ is a monumental panel painting measuring 171.5 by 131.5 cm. It depicts the moment after the Deposition, when Christ’s body has been taken down from the cross. In the background, three crosses are visible at the top of the panel, with the towers of Jerusalem on the far right.

Mary leans over her son’s limp, muscular body and cradles his head. Mary Magdalene, with her hands on her chest, kneels to the right. Also present are Mary, the mother of James, and Salome.

The scene also includes John – the young man on the left, one hand raised to his eye while clasping his tawny cloak in the other – and the donors: the man in the green cloak on the far left and his wife at the top right. The collars of both donors bear inscriptions in Roman letters, ‘1553 AETATIS 42’ and ‘AETATIS SUAE 33’, indicating their respective ages at the time the painting was executed. It has been suggested that the other man at the top, who appears to look directly at the viewer, might be a self-portrait by the painter.

The work is a skilful blend of the emotion characteristic of Flemish masters such as Quentin Matsys and the power associated with Italian predecessors such as Michelangelo. The composition – considered the original – is known through numerous copies, both those produced in the studio and others made further afield. As a result, ‘Lamentation of Christ with Donors’ contributed to the dissemination of this type of image throughout Europe. Owing to its monumentality, the quality of its execution, and its originality, the work exemplifies the height of Antwerp painting before Rubens.

Premiere at BRAFA, followed by further restoration

The panel will be displayed for the first time at BRAFA (25 January–1 February 2026) on the King Baudouin Foundation stand. The Foundation is this year’s guest of honour at the fair. At set times during the event, a restorer will discuss the planned conservation interventions, including the treatment of discoloured blue pigment – used, among other elements, in Mary’s robe – to restore the work’s original appearance. Following this inaugural presentation, restoration will continue, after which the panel will be transferred to M.

Museum debut in ‘Flemish Sculptors in Italy’

The first opportunity to see the work in its restored glory will be during M Leuven’s exhibition ‘Flemish Sculptors in Italy’, which opens on 8 October 2026 and runs until 28 February 2027. This exhibition highlights the artistic exchange between the Low Countries and Italy in the 16th century.

This prestigious autumn exhibition brings together sculptures, paintings, drawings, and other masterpieces from international museums. It reveals how Flemish artists – both in Flanders and in Italy itself – helped shape the Renaissance and how they adopted and further developed the Italian visual language. The exhibition highlights pivotal figures such as Giambologna, Pieter Coecke van Aelst, Jacques Dubroecq, François Duquesnoy, and others.

By placing ‘Lamentation of Christ with Donors’ within this context, M Leuven brings a rare masterpiece into dialogue with sculptural treasures from the 16th and early 17th centuries. This underscores the dynamism of artistic exchange and the drive for innovation during the European Renaissance.

In the autumn of 2026, M will, for the first time, shed light on the artistic exchange between Italy and the Low Countries in the 16th century. Featuring masterpieces from international museums, the exhibition tells a compelling story of mutual influence, virtuoso craftsmanship, and a shared drive for innovation.

Flemish sculptors in Italy | M Leuven

In the autumn of 2026, M will, for the first time, highlight the artistic exchange between Italy and the Low Countries in the 16th century. Featuring masterpieces from renowned international museums, the exhibition tells the fascinating story of mutual influence, virtuoso craftsmanship, and a drive for innovation.

M Leuven

About the Charles Vreeken Fund

The Charles Vreeken Fund, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, focuses on the acquisition, conservation and promotion of works by Belgian artists from all periods and disciplines. The Fund supports museums in Belgium by expanding their collections or by enabling projects that enhance their visibility.

Technical specifications

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Willem Key’s ‘Lamentation of Christ with Donors’ will be shown for the first time at BRAFA 2026 on the King Baudouin Foundation (KBS) stand - No. 151.

Keen to know more about this remarkable work? ​ Marjan Debaene, Director of Old Masters at M, is happy to assist.

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