The four united sidepanels from the altarpiece 'Mirafloresretabel' by Juan de Flandes will be on show in Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp from 11 september until 7 november. The exhibition is called 'Juan de Flandes and the Mirafloresretabel - Traced and Found'. Two panels have been fully restored. The result is amazing, Since the discovery bij SCI, the foundation has made sure the right research and restoration could be conducted. 

The exhibition is very exclusive. To find a panel, that was assumed to be lost, by a famous Flamish primitive is a rare occasion. To bring all four pieces together, after a separation of centuries, is even rarer. 

In 1496 the Flamish painter Juan de Flandes creates an altarpiece for the monestary of Miraflores in Burgos. He paints the piece for the Spanish queen Isabelle of Castille, a sign of his international reputation. The altarpiece consists of five panels. 

Around 1810 the piece disappears from the monestary and the five panels end up in several museums. They are considered to be masterpieces there. Fritz Mayer van den Bergh purchases one in 1899, which has been in his museum ever since. Not until 2003 the last fifth panel was rediscovered in Belgrade. The four sidepanels were reunited in Antwerp for the first time since two centuries. 

Very little is known about the life of Juan de Flandes, but his work is astonishing. The panel that was rediscovered was in a bad shape and the piece in Antwerp was ready for restoration as well. The Royal Institute for the Arts (Koninklijk Instituut voor het Kunstpatrimonium) has a lot of knowledge and love for restoration, and devoted their time to clean, restore and research the two panels.