Emigrating from southern Germany in the late 15th century, the painter Hans Memling sought success in Bruges, which was then a vibrant commercial center. Instead of finding his audience among the aristocracy or ecclesiastical institutions, he found it directly in the new urban middle class of merchants, bankers, financiers, politicians, wealthy clergy, and craftsmen. He also enjoyed fame among the diverse communities of merchants and diplomats from across Europe, including Castile and England, as well as Italian cities like Genoa, Bologna, and Florence, along with the Hanseatic League. This book explores the social and material aspects of Memling's career and workshop, providing a vivid entry into Bruges as an early modern commercial capital, highlighting international trade, political friction, artisan guilds, worship traditions, and the expectations and identities of his middle-class merchant clientele.

Pages: 272, Dimensions: 13.8x13.8cm