Exhibition "Mary of Hungary. Art & Power in the Renaissance"

From November 22nd 2025 to May 10th 2026, the Domain & Royal Museum of Mariemont presents "Maria of Hungary. Art & Power in the Renaissance", an exhibition highlighting the political, diplomatic and artistic role of a central 16th-century figure: Maria of Hungary, sister of the great Charles V and  governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.

Historical works and multisensory installations - combining 3D models, music, images, animation, dance and video - will offer a fresh approach to the Renaissance.

 One clan, one future 

The Domain & Royal Museum of Mariemont presents the vibrant episodes of an unparalleled imperial succession. The exhibition delves into the successful tactics devised by a queen well-known in the region and her family clan.

 Historical context

In the mid-16th century, Charles V, emperor and head of the House of Habsburg, extended his power over much of Europe. This dominance was nevertheless fragile, forcing the sovereign to adopt strategies to reinforce his power. One such strategy was to prepare his succession in favor of his son, the future Philip II. In light of these dynastic and political challenges, Mary of Hungary, the emperor's sister, affirmed herself as a fine strategist.

 Woman of power and strategist

The exhibition retraces the epic propaganda program conducted by Mary of Hungary and her entourage between 1539 and 1559. Combining prestige and majesty, she orchestrated a skillful apparatus servicing the imperial nucleus, thus impacting, through her actions, the course of art and the lines of European territories. A true woman of power and innovation, she called on influential artists from Italy, planned a dazzling tour to present the heir, organized the military defense of the Low Countries and ordered the construction of a palace in Binche and of a vast hunting estate in Mariemont.

"Maria of Hungary. Art & Power in the Renaissance" plunges into the origins of Mariemont to extend into the heart of 16th-century Europe. Under the aegis of the House of Habsburg, the exhibition retraces one of the most important historical events of the Renaissance!

 Loan 

The works on display come from the collections of the Royal Museum of Mariemont and some forty other Belgian and foreign institutions.

Paintings, sculptures, drawings and engravings, archival and archaeological documents, original goldsmithery items will be on display, some for the first time to the public.

 MARY4ALL project

The exhibition also previews four multi-sensory installations combining 3D models, music, images, animation, dance and video. These immersive reconstructions of Renaissance art, architecture, landscapes and music are part of a European innovation project in digital mediation, MARY4ALL. The aim of the project is to combine heritage and digital technologies to promote a better understanding of history.

 Curators

The exhibition is curated by Gilles Docquier, Curator of the Regional and State History Section at the Domain & Royal Musem of Mariemont & Krista De Jonge, Professor Emeritus of Architectural History at the KU Leuven.

 Production and partners 

The exhibition is produced by the Domain & Royal Musem of Mariemont in partnership with the KU Leuven. 

It is placed under the Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen. 

The European MARY4ALL project is co-financed by the European Union's Creative Europe program.

 EUROPALIA ESPAÑA

The exhibition is part of the EUROPALIA ESPAÑA festival program (08.10.2025 - 01.02.2026)

This autumn, EUROPALIA celebrates its 30th edition with a large-scale Spanish biennale. Exactly forty years after its first edition in 1985, EUROPALIA ESPAÑA will unfold a multidisciplinary programme from 8 October 2025 to 1 February 2026 uniting heritage and contemporary art forms and providing fascinating perspectives on themes that connect and challenge us. With Francisco de Goya as its main focus and inspiration, it highlights the cultural richness of Spain through visual art, architecture, theatre, dance, music, performance, film, and literature. EUROPALIA ESPAÑA comprises in total some 150 events, spread throughout Belgium and presenting work by over 120 artists.