Jean Hey's Moulins Triptych Restored and Exhibited at Monastère Royal de Brou
Jean Hey's renowned triptych, the Triptyque de la Vierge Glorieuse, will be showcased at the Monastère royal de Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse from September 12, 2026, until January 3, 2027, following two years of meticulous restoration at the C2RMF. This significant work, crafted around 1498, typically resides in Moulins Cathedral and illustrates the Bourbon family's humble adoration of the Virgin and Child. The restoration unveiled vibrant colors and fine details, particularly in the Virgin's hands, while the panels, originally rejoined in 1837, retain their historical intricacies. This exhibition marks the artwork’s return since its last display at the Louvre in 1937.
Key facts
- The Triptyque de Moulins by Jean Hey is dated around 1498 and measures 189 × 332 × 9 cm.
- It underwent two years of restoration at the C2RMF.
- The exhibition runs from 12 September 2026 to 3 January 2027 at the Monastère royal de Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse.
- The work was last exhibited at the Louvre in 1937.
- The triptych depicts Pierre II de Bourbon, Anne de France, and Suzanne de Bourbon.
- The central panel shows the Virgin of the Apocalypse with a crown of stars and the moon at her feet.
- The grisaille wings depict the Annunciation and were left unfinished.
- Restoration revealed underdrawing incised in a bone-white preparatory layer and pentimenti in the Virgin's hands.
Entities
Artists
- Jean Hey
- Hugo van der Goes
- Benedetto Ghirlandaio
- Prosper Mérimée
Institutions
- Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France (C2RMF)
- Monastère royal de Brou
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Moulins
- Louvre
- Palais de Tokyo
- Beaux Arts Magazine
Locations
- Moulins-sur-Allier
- France
- Bourg-en-Bresse
- Ghent
- Belgium
- Amboise
- Paris