Remember me: Renaissance portraits

Around 1500, the art of portraiture flourished as never before. In countless European cities, great Renaissance artists such as Antonello da Messina, Hans Memling, Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein II and Sofonisba Anguissola produced lifelike portraits at the highest artistic level. What was new was that not only monarchs and aristocrats were immortalised, but also a growing group of powerful bankers, rich merchants and renowned scholars. These paintings, busts, medals, prints and drawings still bear witness to their power, status, ambitions, friendships and religious views.

On the basis of international masterpieces and surprising unknowns, Remember Me highlights the personal stories of those portrayed. How did they want to be remembered? Whether it is a lover, a celebrity or a believer worshipping a saint, in fact every portrait says to us: 'Remember me'!