Stadhuis and Bruges Museum Network Celebrate Historic Painting Reunion in Tokyo
A remarkable piece of Bruges’ artistic heritage has traveled across the globe for a historic exhibition. The 16th-century panel painting Scenes from the Life of Saint James and Saint John has journeyed from the local municipal collections to Japan, where it is currently being showcased in a landmark exhibition. This international exchange highlights the deep cultural connections maintained by the city’s heritage institutions.
A Century-Old Separation Resolved in Tokyo
The painting, which normally resides in the Groeningemuseum, has been reunited with its companion piece for the first time in nearly 116 years. Back in 1909, both works were held by an art dealer in London. They were subsequently separated: one was acquired for the municipal collections of Bruges with the support of the Friends of Musea Brugge, while the other was purchased by the prominent Japanese art collector Kojiro Matsukata.
Since October 25, 2025, the two panels—which share identical dimensions and were likely created by the same unnamed artist—have been hanging side-by-side at the National Museum of Western Art (NMWA) in Tokyo. This unique collection presentation will remain open to the public in the Japanese capital until May 10, 2026.
The Delicate Logistics of a Global Art Loan
Transporting a centuries-old masterpiece on a wooden panel is a highly complex task due to the material's sensitivity to climate and environmental shifts. To ensure the safety of Scenes from the Life of Saint James and Saint John, experts from both the Bruges museums and the Tokyo gallery collaborated closely with a specialized art transport firm.
The painting traveled inside a climate-controlled, custom-built crate by road to Luxembourg before boarding a cargo flight to Tokyo. Anna Koopstra, the curator of early Netherlandish painting for the municipal museums, accompanied the artwork to personally oversee its transit and inspect its condition upon arrival. This major exhibition is the culmination of scientific research and infrared reflectography studies dating back to 2017, alongside detailed restoration and cleaning work completed by painting conservator Sofia Hennen.
Planning a Heritage Visit in Bruges
For those unable to travel to Japan, there will soon be a chance to experience this historic reunion locally. Following the conclusion of the Tokyo exhibition, both paintings will travel to Europe. They will be displayed together at the Groeningemuseum in Bruges from June 16 to October 26, 2026.
This upcoming exhibition offers a perfect opportunity to explore the wider civic history of the city. Visitors planning a cultural itinerary can easily combine art history with local heritage. For instance, a visit to the historic Stadhuis (City Hall) on the Burg square offers an immersive look at the region's gothic architecture and political evolution. Conveniently, admission tickets to the Stadhuis also provide complimentary entry to the adjacent Brugse Vrije, making it easy to dive deep into the city's historic core.
To help plan your journey through these historic sites, Musemap (musemap.art) makes it simple to explore museums in Bruges or locate key architectural landmarks on the interactive Bruges culture map.
